NewzIntel.com

Category: Africa

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Happy International Museum Day!

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    This Sunday, the entire world celebrates International Museum Day. The world rightfully owes the appearance of this holiday to our country. In 1977, at the XI General Conference of the International Council of Museums, which was then held in Moscow and Leningrad, the director of the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts Irina Antonova proposed establishing International Museum Day, which began to be celebrated the following year. To date, about 37 thousand museums from 158 countries have joined the celebration.

    The first museum can be considered the Alexandria Museion, founded in the 3rd century BC in Egypt. It was a cultural, research and religious center, which also included one of the largest ancient libraries. The first Russian museum was the Kunstkamera, founded by Peter I in 1714. The largest museum in the world is the Russian Hermitage, the area of which is just under 101 thousand square meters. And the title of the most popular museum has been held by the French Louvre for many years. Before the pandemic, it was visited by over 10 million people a year, now the number of visitors is again approaching these figures.

    In 2025, the theme of the festival – “The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities” – is dedicated to social, technological and environmental changes in the modern world. Despite the fact that museums preserve the past, they are not ossified structures at all and quickly adapt high technologies to their needs, creating interactive exhibitions and sensory spaces, using virtual and augmented reality, equipping storage rooms with advanced temperature and humidity control systems.

    The State University also has its own museum dedicated to the history of management education in Russia. The first exhibition of 66 exhibits was opened in 2007, and now the museum contains more than 800 different items.

    Traditionally, the Night of Museums is timed to coincide with this holiday, when after sunset the expositions can be visited for free. Now you know how to spend this evening with interest and benefit.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Lagos slum evictions don’t work: 6 ways city planners can actually help the poor

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Oluwaseyi Omowunmi Popogbe, Lecturer I, Crawford University

    Millions of people in Lagos live in slums. Slums typically have poor housing infrastructure and sanitation, and limited access to education, health facilities and clean drinking water.

    These challenges make the people who live in slums vulnerable to health crises, high illiteracy rates and poor standards of living.

    A central element of the city authorities’ efforts to address the issue has been to evict people. Over the past decade, more than 50,000 people have been evicted from their homes in Lagos slums.

    As a development economist who has carried out studies on urban poverty in Lagos State and social exclusion of slum dwellers from full communal participation, I have observed some notable patterns.

    Despite their efforts to contribute to national productivity, these low-income communities are often marginalised and denied access to basic public amenities and a dignified living environment. Instead of addressing their needs, policy and development priorities tend to focus on displacing them. Thereafter, provisions are made for affluent groups, replacing informal settlements with high-rise buildings.

    Sadly, survivors of forced eviction usually move to other slum communities as they cannot afford the high cost of living in the city. This shows that forced eviction is not a solution to slum proliferation.

    I argue that if Lagos wants to solve the problems faced by the city’s vast population of slum dwellers, it should focus on six things. These are:

    • community-led regeneration processes

    • communal engagement

    • upgrading communities without displacement

    • obeying court orders

    • inclusivity in regeneration

    • adequate compensation to the displaced.

    This would help restore trust that the city has all its people’s interests at heart, not just those of the super rich.

    Forced evictions are seen as benefiting the rich

    In March 2025, a demolition exercise was carried out in the Otumara slum, displacing over 10,000 residents at short notice.

    Despite a 2017 Lagos State High Court ruling which condemned forced evictions carried out without due consultation, they have continued.

    Known cases are the Otodo-Gbame waterfront eviction (shortly before the court ruling), where over 30,000 residents were displaced, Ilubirin waterfront community, Orisunmibare in Apapa, Otto communities, Ayetoro, and Oko Baba communities.

    Mid-April 2025, the Lagos State government revealed plans to regenerate the Otumara slum. Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (Lasura) then met with community leaders and other stakeholders to discuss how it would be done. That step should have been taken before the demolition.

    The idea behind the meeting was to ensure inclusiveness and reduce any challenge to the project. Lasura assured the community representatives of a fair hearing throughout the implementation process. They were told the benefits of the regeneration would extend to the entire community.

    As a development economist who has carried out a number of studies on urban vulnerability and inclusion, I’ve found that slum dwellers don’t always trust the government. This lack of trust stems from experiences other slum dwellers have had.

    Urban regeneration does not always favour slum dwellers. So government interventions are not seen as a genuine effort to improve their living conditions, but as a mechanism to displace them to make way for the elite.

    For instance, Maroko slum residents were forcefully evicted under the guise of improving infrastructural amenities and because the area was below sea level. Now the Oniru Estate, Lekki Phase 1 and other notable residential and commercial buildings are located there.

    Luxury apartments on the Lagos lagoon have replaced the former Ilubirin waterfront slum. Lekki foreshore development continues at the former Otodo-Gbame waterfront community.

    Survivors of forced eviction usually move to other slum communities as they can’t afford to live in the city.

    The attainment of Lagos as a “fair shared city” has been proposed by the Fabulous Urban Foundation in partnership with Heinrich Böll Foundation. These organisations advocate urban inclusiveness and community-driven initiatives. They envision Lagos as an inclusive place where everyone (irrespective of social class or status) has equitable access to amenities and decision-making processes.

    The pattern of forced displacement under the guise of urban regeneration, without adequate compensation or resettlement, contradicts the principle of fairness.

    Development plans in Lagos follow western ideas and keep widening the gap between the rich and the poor, as amenities are often developed to be accessible by the middle and upper classes.

    Specifically, the Lagos State Development Plan (LSDP 2052) contains many lofty ideas and opportunities to make Lagos “Africa’s Model Mega City”. But it’s not clear how the city’s multidimensionally poor population fits into the plan.

    Solutions

    To include residents of slums marked for regeneration, a more proactive approach would be:

    1. Continuous communal engagement, to reaffirm that government and other stakeholders are committed to including all residents.

    2. Community-led redesign and regeneration processes. Slum conditions are deplorable and dehumanising, but evicting residents to make way for the high class is unacceptable. The redesign should aim to favour the community.

    3. Abiding by court rulings which warn against forced eviction. Lagos courts have often ruled against forced evictions, especially when carried out without due process or resettlement arrangements. The Lagos State government ought to uphold human rights by ceasing all forced eviction procedures, as they are unlawful.

    4. Upgrading instead of displacement. Regeneration within existing settlements should be encouraged where feasible, so that livelihoods and social cohesion are not disrupted.

    5. Regeneration should include all income groups. It should not only focus on physical infrastructure, but also social and economic issues. It would make affordable housing and basic amenities available for all income groups.

    6. Adequate compensation. Where relocation cannot be avoided, a resettlement plan must be in place that will ensure fair treatment and avoid disruption to livelihood.

    Oluwaseyi Omowunmi Popogbe does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Lagos slum evictions don’t work: 6 ways city planners can actually help the poor – https://theconversation.com/lagos-slum-evictions-dont-work-6-ways-city-planners-can-actually-help-the-poor-255341

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Terrorists use food as a weapon: how Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab exploit hunger

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Simone Papale, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Parma

    Women receive food aid in Somalia. Terrorism creates food disruptions, undermining production systems and supply routes. Tobin Jones/Wikimedia Commons

    Over the last decade, there has been growing international focus on the role of food in conflict, particularly in Africa. The continent has seen an increase in jihadist terrorism in several regions.

    Violence, like that exercised by terrorist organisations, is linked with food security conditions, causing a vicious circle of hunger and conflict.

    Terrorism generates food disruptions. It undermines production systems and supply routes.

    At the same time, growing food shortages intensify tensions and competition over essential resources at the margins of vulnerable societies. This increases the risk of mobilisation into violence.

    We are researchers in international security and contemporary warfare. In a recent article, we explored the role of food in Africa’s terrorist insurgencies. We focused on Boko Haram in Nigeria and Al-Shabaab in Somalia.

    We show how food is not only a driver or victim of violence. It is also central to how terrorist groups fight, govern and survive.

    Terrorists use food as a tool to challenge national authorities and increase their followers. In parallel, they exploit food insecurity to control communities and confront counter-terrorism forces, pushing the state out of contested areas.



    Read more:
    How crime is closely linked to Al-Shabaab’s survival strategy

    This has major implications. The use of food as a weapon worsens humanitarian conditions. It causes the displacement of people in vulnerable settings. As a result, it sets in motion dangerous mechanisms of instability that can even undermine militants themselves, reducing their resources and operational capabilities.

    State responses need to address these challenges and promote more comprehensive approaches to counter terrorism.

    Weaponising supplies

    Since the late 2000s, Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab have engaged African security forces in a strenuous fight. Both groups have sought to overthrow local governments and establish their power.

    They have expanded their networks in regions where food security is low. These are Nigeria’s Borno State and southern Somalia.

    These areas have witnessed historical frictions between the population and government authorities. Local communities have lamented socioeconomic marginalisation, shortages of essential resources and high levels of unemployment.

    Both Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab have sought to capitalise on inequalities to gain appeal among aggrieved populations, seeking to replace the state in the delivery of essential resources.



    Read more:
    Nigeria’s growing security crisis: 6 essential reads

    Boko Haram militants have reportedly provided supplies, such as biscuits, rice and spaghetti, to marginalised villages. As a Borno State resident put it, the militants have shown “love and concern” while addressing local needs.

    Al-Shabaab has resorted to similar practices to win the hearts and minds of southern Somalis and enlarge its pool of recruits. The group has supplied struggling communities with meals and goods, and promoted local agricultural activities.

    In parallel to these activities, both terrorist groups have adopted more aggressive measures to counter the advance of anti-terrorism forces. They have used food denial to punish civilian insubordination and cooperation with the state, relying on starvation tactics.

    Boko Haram has systematically targeted food infrastructures. The group has burned crops, banned farming and fishing activities, and even poisoned water sources. This has happened particularly in places where militants suspected collusion between communities and national authorities.

    Likewise, Al-Shabaab has interrupted trade routes. It has destroyed food imports to isolate southern Somali villages controlled by security forces and deprive them of popular support. During Somalia’s 2011–2012 famine, Al-Shabaab militants blocked humanitarian agencies. This was aimed at preventing the distribution of food aid to curb western influence in territories under their control.

    The repercussions

    The use of food as a weapon has had major repercussions in Borno State and southern Somalia. It is a primary cause of the deterioration of food security in these regions over the last 15 years.

    Attacks on food resources and infrastructure have disrupted supply routes. They have pushed people to abandon their crops and pastures. This has decreased the production and availability of essential goods.

    As a result, humanitarian conditions have worsened, local economies have weakened and displacement flows have intensified.

    This has had detrimental effects for Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab, depriving militants of key assets to sustain their activities and attract new recruits.

    The two terrorist groups have become victims of the emergencies they have helped generate. They have increasingly struggled to supply nourishment for their troops and supporters. Consequently, they have witnessed a growing number of defections motivated by unsustainable conditions.

    Reports highlight increasing cases of jihadists surrendering to security forces while requesting food.

    To address these challenges, Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab have intensified raids on villages, looting goods and livestock.



    Read more:
    What drives Al-Shabaab in Somalia: foreign forces out, Sharia law in and overthrow the government

    However, growing frictions with the population have undermined the groups’ operational capabilities, even opening up new fronts of resistance.

    Boko Haram has been forced to transfer part of its resources and operations to the Lake Chad area. The group has intensified incursions to capture food in Nigeria’s neighbouring countries.

    In Somalia, tensions with farming and pastoralist communities have led to the creation of militias mobilising against Al-Shabaab.

    What next

    The relocation of Boko Haram’s operations and the mobilisation of communities against Al-Shabaab have not eradicated the terrorist threat. However, these events further highlight food as a crucial factor shaping insurgencies.

    African and international authorities need to tackle the dynamics of food weaponisation. They need to refine their approach to enhance local resilience, addressing the inequalities that insurgents exploit.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Terrorists use food as a weapon: how Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab exploit hunger – https://theconversation.com/terrorists-use-food-as-a-weapon-how-boko-haram-and-al-shabaab-exploit-hunger-256162

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Why the wall of silence on the Gaza genocide is finally starting to crack

    Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. –

    As Israel unveils its final genocide push, and mass death from starvation looms in Gaza, Western media and politicians are tentatively starting to speak up

    ANALYSIS: By Jonathan Cook

    Who could have imagined 19 months ago that it would take more than a year and a half of Israel slaughtering and starving Gaza’s children for the first cracks to appear in what has been a rock-solid wall of support for Israel from Western establishments.

    Finally, something looks like it may be about to give.

    The British establishment’s financial daily, The Financial Times, was first to break ranks last week to condemn “the West’s shameful silence” in the face of Israel’s murderous assault on the tiny enclave.

    In an editorial — effectively the paper’s voice– the FT accused the United States and Europe of being increasingly “complicit” as Israel made Gaza “uninhabitable”, an allusion to genocide, and noted that the goal was to “drive Palestinians from their land”, an allusion to ethnic cleansing.

    Of course, both of these grave crimes by Israel have been evidently true not only since Hamas’ violent, single-day breakout from Gaza on 7 October 2023, but for decades.

    So parlous is the state of Western reporting, from a media no less complicit than the governments berated by the FT, that we need to seize on any small signs of progress.

    Next, The Economist chimed in, warning that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his ministers were driven by a “dream of emptying Gaza and rebuilding Jewish settlements there”.

    ‘Deafening silence on Gaza’
    At the weekend, The Independent decided the “deafening silence on Gaza” had to end. It was “time for the world to wake up to what is happening and to demand an end to the suffering of the Palestinians trapped in the enclave”.

    Actually much of the world woke up many, many months ago. It has been the Western press corps and Western politicians slumbering through the past 19 months of genocide.

    Then on Monday, the supposedly liberal Guardian voiced in its own editorial a fear that Israel is committing “genocide”, though it only dared do so by framing the accusation as a question.

    It wrote of Israel: “Now it plans a Gaza without Palestinians. What is this, if not genocidal? When will the US and its allies act to stop the horror, if not now?”

    The paper could more properly have asked a different question: Why have Israel’s Western allies — as well as media like The Guardian and FT — waited 19 months to speak up against the horror?

    And, predictably bringing up the rear, was the BBC. On Wednesday, the BBC Radio’s PM programme chose to give top billing to testimony from Tom Fletcher, the United Nation’s humanitarian affairs chief, to the Security Council. Presenter Evan Davis said the BBC had decided to “do something a little unusual”.

    Unusual indeed. It played Fletcher’s speech in full — all 12 and a half minutes of it. That included Fletcher’s comment: “For those killed and those whose voices are silenced: what more evidence do you need now? Will you act — decisively — to prevent genocide and to ensure respect for international humanitarian law?”

    ‘Genocide’ from taboo to mainstream
    We had gone in less than a week from the word “genocide” being taboo in relation to Gaza to it becoming almost mainstream.

    Cracks are evident in the British Parliament too. Mark Pritchard, a Conservative MP and life-long Israel supporter, stood up from the back benches to admit he had been wrong about Israel, and condemned it “for what it is doing to the Palestinian people”.

    He was one of more than a dozen Tory MPs and peers in the House of Lords, all formerly staunch defenders of Israel, who urged British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to immediately recognise a Palestinian state.

    Their move followed an open letter published by 36 members of the Board of Deputies, a 300-member body that claims to represent British Jews, dissenting from its continuing support for the slaughter. The letter warned: “Israel’s soul is being ripped out.”

    Pritchard told fellow MPs it was time to “stand up for humanity, for us being on the right side of history, for having the moral courage to lead.”

    Sadly, there is no sign of that yet. Research published last week, based on Israeli tax authority data, showed Starmer’s government has been lying even about the highly limited restrictions on arms sales to Israel it claimed to have imposed last year.

    Despite an ostensible ban on shipments of weapons that could be used in Gaza, Britain has covertly exported more than 8500 separate munitions to Israel since the ban.

    More weapons details
    This week more details emerged. According to figures published by The National, the current government exported more weapons to Israel in the final three months of last year, after the ban came into effect, than the previous Conservative government did through the whole of 2020 to 2023.

    So shameful is the UK’s support for Israel in the midst of what the International Court of Justice — the World Court — has described as a “plausible genocide” that Starmer’s government needs to pretend it is doing something, even as it actually continues to arm that genocide.

    More than 40 MPs wrote to Foreign Secretary David Lammy last week calling for him to respond to allegations that he had misled the public and Parliament. “The public deserves to know the full scale of the UK’s complicity in crimes against humanity,” they wrote.

    There are growing rumblings elsewhere. This week French President Emmanuel Macron called Israel’s complete blockade on aid into Gaza “shameful and unacceptable”. He added: “My job is to do everything I can to make it stop.”

    “Everything” seemed to amount to nothing more than mooting possible economic sanctions.

    Still, the rhetorical shift was striking. Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, similarly denounced the blockade, calling it “unjustifiable”. She added: “I have always recalled the urgency of finding a way to end the hostilities and respect international law and international humanitarian law.”

    “International law”? Where has that been for the past 19 months?

    Similar change of priorities
    There was a similar change of priorities across the Atlantic. Democratic Senator Chris van Hollen, for example, recently dared to call Israel’s actions in Gaza “ethnic cleansing”.

    CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, a bellwether of the Beltway consensus, gave Israel’s deputy Foreign Minister, Sharren Haskel, an unusually tough grilling. Amanpour all but accused her of lying about Israel starving children.

    Meanwhile, Josep Borrell, the recently departed head of European Union foreign policy, broke another taboo last week by directly accusing Israel of preparing a genocide in Gaza.

    “Seldom have I heard the leader of a state so clearly outline a plan that fits the legal definition of genocide,” he said, adding: “We’re facing the largest ethnic cleansing operation since the end of the Second World War.”

    Borrell, of course, has no influence over EU policy at this point.

    This is all painfully slow progress, but it does suggest that a tipping point may be near.

    If so, there are several reasons. One — the most evident in the mix — is US President Donald Trump.

    It was easier for The Guardian, the FT and old-school Tory MPs to watch the extermination of Gaza’s Palestinians in silence when it was kindly Uncle Joe Biden and the US military industrial complex behind it.

    Trump forgets ‘his bit’
    Unlike his predecessor, Trump too often forgets the bit where he is supposed to put a gloss on Israeli crimes, or distance the US from them, even as Washington ships the weapons to carry out those crimes.

    But also, there are plenty of indications that Trump — with his constant craving to be seen as the top dog — is increasingly annoyed at being publicly outfoxed by Netanyahu.

    This week, as Trump headed to the Middle East, his administration secured the release of Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, the last living US citizen in captivity in Gaza, by bypassing Israel and negotiating directly with Hamas.

    In his comments on the release, Trump insisted it was time to “put an end to this very brutal war” — a remark he had very obviously not coordinated with Netanyahu.

    Notably, Israel is not on Trump’s Middle East schedule.

    Right now seems a relatively safe moment to adopt a more critical stance towards Israel, as presumably the FT and Guardian appreciate.

    Then there is the fact that Israel’s genocide is reaching its endpoint. No food, water or medicines have entered Gaza for more than two months. Everyone is malnourished. It is unclear, given Israel’s destruction of Gaza’s health system, how many have already died from hunger.

    Skin-and-bones children
    But the pictures of skin-and-bones children emerging from Gaza are uncomfortably reminiscent of 80-year-old images of skeletal Jewish children imprisoned in Nazi camps.

    It is a reminder that Gaza — strictly blockaded by Israel for 16 years before Hamas’ 7 October 2023 breakout — has been transformed over the past 19 months from a concentration camp into a death camp.

    Parts of the media and political class know mass death in Gaza cannot be obscured for much longer, not even after Israel has barred foreign journalists from the enclave and murdered most of the Palestinian journalists trying to record the genocide.

    Cynical political and media actors are trying to get in their excuses before it is too late to show remorse.

    And finally there is the fact that Israel has declared its readiness to take hands-on responsibility for the extermination in Gaza by, in its words, “capturing” the tiny territory.

    The long-anticipated “day after” looks like it is about to arrive.

    For 20 years, Israel and Western capitals have conspired in the lie that Gaza’s occupation ended in 2005, when Israel’s then prime minister, Ariel Sharon, pulled out a few thousand Jewish settlers and withdrew Israeli soldiers to a highly fortified perimeter encaging the enclave.

    Always under Israeli occupation
    In a ruling last year, the World Court gave this claim short shrift, emphasising that Gaza, as well as the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, had never stopped being under Israeli occupation, and that the occupation must end immediately.

    The truth is that, even before the 2023 Hamas attacks, Israel had been besieging Gaza by land, sea and air for many, many years. Nothing — people or trade — went in or out without the Israeli military’s say-so.

    Israeli officials instituted a secret policy of putting the population there on a strict “diet” – a war crime then as now — one that ensured most of Gaza’s young became progressively more malnourished.

    Drones whined constantly overhead, as they do now, watching the population from the skies 24 hours a day and occasionally raining down death. Fishermen were shot and their boats sunk for trying to fish their own waters. Farmers’ crops were destroyed by herbicides sprayed from Israeli planes.

    And when the mood took it, Israel sent in fighter jets to bomb the enclave or sent soldiers in on military operations, killing hundreds of civilians at a time.

    When Palestinians in Gaza went out week after week to stage protests close to the perimeter fence of their concentration camp, Israeli snipers shot them, killing some 200 and crippling many thousands more.

    Yet, despite all this, Israel and Western capitals insisted on the story that Hamas “ruled” Gaza, and that it alone was responsible for what went on there.

    Fiction important to West
    “That fiction was very important to the Western powers. It allowed Israel to evade accountability for the crimes against humanity committed in Gaza over the past two decades – and it allowed the West to avoid complicity charges for arming the criminals.

    Instead, the political and media class perpetuated the myth that Israel was engaged in a “conflict” with Hamas — as well as intermittent “wars” in Gaza — even as Israel’s own military termed its operations to destroy whole neighbourhoods and kill their residents “mowing the lawn”.

    Israel, of course, viewed Gaza as its lawn to mow. And that is precisely because it never stopped occupying the enclave.

    Even today Western media outlets collude in the fiction that Gaza is free from Israeli occupation by casting the slaughter there — and the starvation of the population — as a “war”.

    But the “day after” — signalled by Israel’s promised “capture” and “reoccupation” of Gaza — brings a conundrum for Israel and its Western sponsors.

    Until now Israel’s every atrocity has been justified by Hamas’ violent breakout on 7 October 2023.

    Israel and its supporters have insisted that Hamas must return the Israelis it took captive before there can be some undefined “peace”. At the same time, Israel has also maintained that Gaza must be destroyed at all costs to root out Hamas and eliminate it.

    Goals never looked consistent
    These two goals never looked consistent — not least because the more Palestinian civilians Israel killed “rooting out” Hamas, the more young men Hamas recruited seeking vengeance.

    The constant stream of genocidal rhetoric from Israeli leaders made clear that they believed there were no civilians in Gaza — not “uninvolved” –– and that the enclave should be levelled and the population treated like “human animals”, punished with “no food, water or fuel”.

    Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich reiterated that approach last week, vowing that “Gaza will be entirely destroyed” and that its people would be ethnically cleansed — or, as he put it, forced to “leave in great numbers to third countries”.

    Israeli officials have echoed him, threatening to “flatten” Gaza if the hostages are not released. But in truth, the captives held by Hamas are just a convenient pretext.

    Smotrich was more honest in observing that the hostages’ release was “not the most important thing”. His view is apparently shared by the Israeli military, which has reportedly put that aim last in a list of six “war” objectives.

    More important to the military are “operational control” of Gaza, “demilitarization of the territory” and “concentration and movement of the population”.

    With Israel about to be indisputably, visibly in direct charge of Gaza again — with the cover stories stripped away of a “war”, of the need to eliminate of Hamas, of civilian casualties as “collateral damage” — Israel’s responsibility for the genocide will be incontestable too, as will the West’s active collusion.

    Mossad agents’ letter
    That was why more than 250 former officials with Mossad, Israel’s spy agency — including three of its former heads — signed a letter this week decrying Israel’s breaking of the ceasefire in early March and its return to “war”.

    The letter called Israel’s official objectives “unattainable”.

    Similarly, the Israeli media reports large numbers of Israel’s military reservists are no longer showing up when called for a return to duty in Gaza.

    Israel’s western patrons must now grapple with Israel’s “plan” for the ruined territory. Its outline has been coming more sharply into focus in recent days.

    In January Israel formally outlawed the United Nations refugee agency Unrwa that feeds and cares for the large proportion of the Palestinian population driven off their historic lands by Israel in earlier phases of its decades-long colonisation of historic Palestine.

    Gaza is packed with such refugees – the outcome of Israel’s biggest ethnic cleansing programme in 1948, at its creation as a “Jewish state”.

    Removing Unrwa had been a long-held ambition, a move by Israel designed to help rid it of the yoke of aid agencies that have been caring for Palestinians – and thereby helping them to resist Israel’s efforts at ethnic cleansing – as well as monitoring Israel’s adherence, or rather lack of it, to international law.

    Private contractor scheme
    For the ethnic cleansing and genocide programmes in Gaza to be completed, Israel has needed to produce an alternative system to Unrwa’s.

    Last week, it approved a scheme in which it intends to use private contractors, not the UN, to deliver small quantities of food and water to Palestinians. Israel will allow in 60 trucks a day — barely a tenth of the absolute minimum required, according to the UN.

    There are several catches. To stand any hope of qualifying for this very limited aid, Palestinians will need to collect it from military distribution points located in a small area at the southern tip of the Gaza strip.

    In other words, some two million Palestinians will have to crowd into a location that has no chance of accommodating them all, and even then will have only a tenth of the aid they need.

    They will have to relocate too without any guarantee from Israel that it won’t continue bombing the “humanitarian zones” they have been herded into.

    These military distribution zones just so happen to be right next to Gaza’s sole, short border with Egypt — exactly where Israel has been seeking to drive the Palestinians over the past 19 months in the hope of forcing Egypt to open the border so the people of Gaza can be ethnically cleansed into Sinai.

    Under Israel’s scheme, Palestinians will be screened in these military hubs using biometric data before they stand any hope of receiving minimum calorie-controlled handouts of food.

    Once inside the hubs, they can be arrested and shipped off to one of Israel’s torture camps.

    Torture and abuse rife
    Just last week Israel’s Haaretz newspaper published testimony from an Israeli soldier turned whistleblower — confirming accounts from doctors and other guards — that torture and abuse are rife against Palestinians, including civilians, at Sde Teiman, the most notorious of the camps.

    Last Friday, shortly after Israel announced its “aid” plan, it fired a missile into an Unrwa centre in Jabaliya camp, destroying its food distribution centre and warehouse.

    Then on Saturday, Israel bombed tents used for preparing food in Khan Younis and Gaza City. It has been targeting charity kitchens and bakeries to close them down, in an echo of its campaign of destruction against Gaza’s hospitals and health system.

    In recent days, a third of UN-supported community kitchens — the population’s last life line — have closed because their stores of food are depleted, as is their access to fuel.

    According to the UN agency OCHA, that number is rising “by the day”, leading to “widespread” hunger.

    Facing ‘catastrophic hunger’
    The UN reported this week that nearly half a million people in Gaza — a fifth of the population — faced “catastrophic hunger”.

    Predictably, Israel and its ghoulish apologists are making light of this sea of immense suffering. Jonathan Turner, chief executive of UK Lawyers for Israel, argued that critics were unfairly condemning Israel for starving Gaza’s population, and ignoring the health benefits of reducing “obesity” among Palestinians.

    In a joint statement last week, 15 UN agencies and more than 200 charities and humanitarian groups denounced Israel’s “aid” plan. The UN children’s fund Unicef warned that Israel was forcing Palestinians to choose between “displacement and death”.

    But worse, Israel is setting up its stall once again to turn reality on its head.

    Those Palestinians who refuse to cooperate with its “aid” plan will be blamed for their own starvation. And international agencies who refuse to go along with Israeli criminality will be smeared both as “antisemitic” and as responsible for the mounting toll of starvation on Gaza’s population.

    There is a way to stop these crimes degenerating further. But it will require Western politicians and journalists to find far more courage than they have dared muster so far. It will need more than rhetorical flourishes. It will need more than public handwringing.

    Are they capable of more? Don’t hold your breath.

    Jonathan Cook is an award-winning British journalist. He was based in Nazareth, Israel, for 20 years and returned to the UK in 2021. He is the author of three books on the Israel-Palestine conflict, including Disappearing Palestine: Israel’s Experiments in Human Despair (2008). In 2011, Cook was awarded the Martha Gellhorn Special Prize for Journalism for his work on Palestine and Israel. This article was first published in Middle East Eye and is republished with the author’s permission.

     

    This article was first published on Café Pacific.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: Trump’s Gulf visit signals potential shift in Mideast policy

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) meets with visiting U.S. President Donald Trump in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, May 15, 2025. [Emirates News Agency/Handout via Xinhua]

    U.S. President Donald Trump departed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday afternoon, concluding a lucrative four-day Gulf tour, which had also taken him to Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

    Despite expectations that Trump’s visit could help calm the conflict in Gaza and ease regional tensions, the U.S. president instead focused his Middle East visit primarily on economic gain, securing multi-trillion-dollar investment commitments from the three Gulf countries.

    Analysts believe that, by sidestepping the region’s conflict zones and prioritizing business deals, Trump’s tour signals a potential pivot in U.S. Middle East policy.

    Profitable journey

    Massive commercial deals defined Trump’s Middle East tour.

    From the outset of his second term, Trump signaled that his first major foreign trip would emphasize promoting U.S. economic interests. On his inauguration day in January, Trump stated he would choose Saudi Arabia as his first destination “if Saudi Arabia wanted to buy another 450, or 500 billion (dollars’ worth of U.S. products).”

    Upon arrival in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, Trump secured an investment agreement with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, locking in 600 billion U.S. dollars in investments into the United States.

    Among the deals signed was “the largest defense sales agreement in history — nearly 142 billion dollars,” said a White House statement. Under this agreement, the United States will supply Saudi Arabia with “state-of-the-art warfighting equipment and services from over a dozen U.S. defense firms.”

    In Qatar, Trump cut a deal with the Gulf nation to generate “an economic exchange worth at least 1.2 trillion dollars.” He also secured commercial deals worth over 243.5 billion dollars, including the sale of 210 U.S.-made Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 777X jets to Qatar Airways, valued at 96 billion dollars.

    Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (2nd R) and U.S. President Donald Trump (2nd L) witness the signing of a series of deals at the Amiri Diwan in Doha, Qatar, on May 14, 2025. [Qatar News Agency/Handout via Xinhua]

    In the UAE, the final stop of the trip, Trump announced 200 billion dollars in bilateral commercial agreements, bringing “the total of investment agreements in the Gulf region to over 2 trillion dollars,” the White House noted.

    Trump’s trip to the Middle East “is all about money,” said Rodger Shanahan, a Middle East analyst at the Lowy Institute. “The Gulf states are a source of foreign investment for the United States of a size that makes for good announcements.”

    “Vague role” in easing tensions

    Despite hopes that Washington would leverage its special ties with Israel to promote a ceasefire and reduce regional tensions, the United States has yet to take meaningful steps toward resolving Middle East conflicts.

    During Trump’s visit, Israel continued large-scale airstrikes on Gaza, killing dozens daily. In Yemen, Houthi forces and Israel engaged in ongoing retaliatory attacks, while frequent Israeli military strikes against Lebanon resulted in casualties.

    Smoke billows following Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip, as seen from Israel’s southern border with the Gaza Strip, on May 16, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Although the United States claimed to aim for Middle East peace, “the reality on the ground contradicts the U.S. stated goals,” said Mostafa Amin, an Egyptian researcher on Arab and international affairs. “The killings … by Israel during Trump’s visit raise serious questions about the sincerity of any U.S. peace efforts.”

    Further disappointment among Arab nations came from Trump’s inflammatory remarks on occupying Gaza. At a roundtable with Qatari officials in Doha, he suggested the United States should “take” Gaza and reshape its future.

    “I think I’d be proud to have the United States have it, take it, make it a freedom zone,” he said before reporters. “Let some good things happen, put people in homes where they can be safe, and Hamas is going to have to be dealt with.”

    “He referenced peace only in the context of hostage releases,” observed Amjad Abu al-Ezz, a political science professor at the Arab American University in the West Bank. “There was no mention of a ceasefire, de-escalation or even basic humanitarian corridors (in Gaza).”

    Trump did not hesitate to criticize Iran during his trip, calling it “the most destructive force” in the Middle East and accusing it of fueling regional instability. His remarks drew sharp rebukes from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, further heightening already tense U.S.-Iran relations.

    “Although Trump’s visit yielded some economic gains, the United States has yet to present clear solutions to the underlying regional tensions,” said Ali Johar, a UAE political analyst.

    By focusing solely on its economic interests and overlooking the concerns of regional populations, Washington appears to be drifting into a “vague role” in addressing the area’s conflicts, Johar noted.

    Potential policy shift

    Trump’s trip not only overlooked Arab world concerns but also appeared to sideline Israel’s sensitivities.

    Unlike his first presidential trip to the Middle East in 2017, Trump’s latest visit excluded Israel from his itinerary. On the eve of his arrival, reports surfaced that the United States had even held direct talks with Hamas, culminating in the release of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander.

    People watch a live stream of the release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander in a square in Tel Aviv, Israel, May 12, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    “Skipping Israel was seen as a reflection of the deteriorating ties between the U.S. administration and the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,” noted an Al Jazeera analysis.

    While in the UAE, Trump acknowledged that “a lot of people are starving in Gaza,” a rare statement interpreted as a sign of his growing frustration over Israel’s prolonged military campaign.

    Analysts suggest Trump, known for his America-first, pragmatic stance, is losing patience with Israel.

    “For decades, Israel has leveraged its special relationship with the United States to serve as a gatekeeper to Washington,” the Times of Israel wrote in an opinion piece, observing that many in Israel “worried that the best partner they’ve ever had in the White House had lost interest.”

    This concern is not unfounded. Frederick Kempe, president and CEO of the Atlantic Council, said the Trump administration would rather “swim in a stream of Gulf investments than get bogged down in the region’s enduring problems.”

    Apparently, the United States is shifting its focus and policy priorities toward the Gulf region and the economic field, Kheir Diabat, a professor in the International Affairs Department at Qatar University, observed.

    “While economic cooperation is certainly beneficial for the region,” Diabat added, “what the United States should prioritize now is taking its responsibility and helping restore stability to the Middle East.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: 34th Arab League Summit held in Iraq with focus on Palestinian issue

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein (R, front) welcomes Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (L, front) at Baghdad International Airport ahead of the 34th Arab League Summit, in Baghdad, Iraq, May 16, 2025. The summit kicked off here on Saturday, bringing together the bloc’s 22 member states, along with a number of regional and international organizations, to address critical challenges facing the Arab world, particularly the ongoing crisis in Palestine. [Iraqi Foreign Ministry/Handout via Xinhua]

    The 34th Arab League Summit kicked off in the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Saturday, bringing together the bloc’s 22 member states, along with a number of regional and international organizations, to address critical challenges facing the Arab world, particularly the ongoing crisis in Palestine.

    Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid, who took over the rotating presidency from Bahrain, highlighted in his speech the grave threats facing the region. He condemned the Israeli “systematic killing” of Palestinians since October 2023, describing it as an attempt to “erase their presence from their land.”

    “We categorically condemn these acts, which violate human rights and international law,” Rashid said, reaffirming Iraq’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people’s right to live on their land and rejection of any attempts at their forced displacement.

    He also emphasized Iraq’s support for Arab security and stability, rejecting external interference in the internal affairs of Arab nations.

    Displaced Palestinians are seen in Gaza City, as they flee with their belongings from Beit Lahia or Jabalia in northern Gaza Strip, on May 16, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Addressing the summit’s opening session, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani unveiled 18 initiatives to revitalize joint Arab action, foremost among them the initiative to establish an Arab Fund to support post-crisis reconstruction efforts in the region.

    Al-Sudani said that Iraq’s vision for ending the conflicts in the region “begins with the Palestinian people attaining their full right to a free and dignified life on their land and an end to the ongoing aggression (against their territory).”

    “We have rejected and continue to reject forcible displacement of Palestinians, calling for an immediate halt to the attacks on the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and other occupied Palestinian territories, and for the unhindered entry of humanitarian aid,” al-Sudani added, while announcing Iraq’s pledge of 20 million U.S. dollars for the reconstruction of Gaza and another 20 million dollars for Lebanon.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Arab leaders demand ceasefire in Gaza, reject displacement of Palestinians

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Arab leaders on Saturday called for an immediate halt to the war in Gaza and voiced their rejection of forced displacement of Palestinians.

    In the final statement of the 34th Arab League Summit, which kicked off in the Iraqi capital Baghdad earlier in the day, the leaders of the bloc’s 22 member states demanded “an immediate halt to the war in Gaza and all hostilities exacerbating civilian suffering.”

    The statement urged the international community, particularly influential states, to fulfill their moral and legal obligations to advocate for a cessation of bloodshed and ensure unhindered humanitarian aid to Gaza.

    They also reiterated their rejection of forced displacement of the Palestinian people, which constitutes a violation of international law, the statement added.

    It called on all countries to provide political, financial, and legal support for the reconstruction and recovery plans for the Gaza Strip, welcoming Iraq’s call to establish a fund for the reconstruction of Gaza.

    The leaders affirmed that the Palestinian issue remains the core cause of the Arab nation and the key to regional stability, said the statement, adding that they fully support the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including freedom, self-determination, and the establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

    The statement stressed that the Arab leaders condemn all illegitimate measures and practices by Israel that target the Palestinian people and deprive them of their right to freedom, life, and human dignity.

    The leaders supported a call of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to convene an international peace conference and take steps to implement the two-state solution.

    The statement also addressed other issues across the Arab world, including Sudan, Lebanon, Syria, Libya, and Yemen, and reiterated the Arab leaders’ condemnation of all forms of terrorism, particularly the terrorist acts by the Islamic State (IS) group.

    The summit witnessed the participation of leaders and top diplomats of 22 Arab League member states, as well as representatives from regional and international organizations.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Iraqi PM calls for Arab economic integration to boost development

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BAGHDAD, May 18 (Xinhua) — Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani called for economic integration of Arab countries as a means to promote their development here on Saturday at the opening of the 5th Arab Summit for Economic and Social Development.

    According to a statement from his press office, the prime minister noted that “the summit serves as a strategic platform to strengthen partnerships among Arab countries, activate development funds and mechanisms, create new opportunities for women and youth, and ensure the well-being of children.”

    M. al-Sudani proposed the creation of a joint Arab mechanism to assess the effectiveness of development based on economic and social development indicators, the statement said.

    “There is no security without development, and there is no development without genuine Arab economic integration,” the Iraqi prime minister said, expressing hope that the summit would be a “turning point” in the trajectory of Arab development. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Belt and Road Initiative builds connectivity, shared future

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    HANGZHOU, May 17 — Inside an exhibition hall at the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, the world’s busiest port by cargo throughput, a giant screen pulses with real-time port operations data. A group of visitors could recently be seen watching intently as a digital platform mapped out how smart port technologies were driving efficient management and greener growth.

    “This is precisely the standard a global hub should meet,” said Douglas Jardine Flint, former group chairman of HSBC. What had impressed him, he said, was not just the physical scale of the port but the powerful digital infrastructure behind it. “This reflects an open, forward-looking China,” he added.

    On Thursday, the Advisory Council of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held its 2025 session in the city of Ningbo, east China’s Zhejiang Province. A day earlier, advisory council members from Kenya, Egypt, the United Kingdom and beyond visited the world-class deep-water port in Zhejiang.

    The Ningbo-Zhoushan Port is the only port in the world that has handled over 1 billion tonnes of cargo annually for 16 consecutive years. It has more than 200 deep-water berths across 20 port areas stretching 220 kilometers of coastline, with each berth capable of accommodating 10,000-tonne ships.

    The port is a golden hub of the Yangtze River Delta and a vital link connecting China with the Middle East, Africa and Europe under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

    “I once worked as a transportation engineer and was involved in many port projects in Egypt,” said Essam Sharaf, former prime minister of Egypt. “But Ningbo-Zhoushan Port is clearly a more advanced and more important one.”

    In Sharaf’s view, the world economy is increasingly dependent on maritime transportation, and efficient ports are the cornerstone of global trade.

    “You can see the dedicated employees, cutting-edge innovation and advanced science here. No wonder it’s one of the biggest ports in the world,” Erastus J.O. Mwencha, former deputy chairperson of the African Union Commission, said as his gaze swept across the bustling port.

    To Mwencha, the port is more than just a logistics hub — it stands as a symbol of multilateralism.

    “One of the goals of the BRI is to advance global cooperation and achieve mutual benefit,” he said. “Whether it’s ports, highways, regional hubs or air routes, all are key programs of the initiative. These infrastructures don’t just connect locations — they connect development opportunities.”

    Since the BRI was proposed over a decade ago, port cooperation has remained a key field of connectivity.

    China and its partners have worked together to transform critical maritime infrastructure, with projects including the Gwadar Port of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and Greece’s Piraeus Port, which is the largest port in the Mediterranean, as well as Lekki Deep Sea Port, which is the first modern deep seaport in Nigeria.

    The goal is to achieve not just broader trade routes, but shared development. For many of the advisory council members who traveled to Ningbo, witnessing the scale and sophistication of the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port reaffirmed the possibilities of deepened Belt and Road cooperation.

    Sharaf, a long-time observer of international development, called the BRI “one of the most important cooperation platforms in the world today.” It carries, he said, “the development hopes of many nations — and historic significance.”

    Through partnerships and joint projects, the BRI has “created a global web of connectivity, shared planning and common purpose,” Sharaf said. “Under this initiative, we don’t impose things but share the benefits.”

    Mwencha expressed a similar view. “To me, the BRI is itself a port of hope, of progress, of the future,” he said with conviction.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese language proficiency competition for university students held in Egypt

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    The 24th “Chinese Bridge” Chinese proficiency competition for Egyptian university students concluded Saturday in the Egyptian capital Cairo.

    The competition, hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Egypt and organized by the Cairo-based Chinese Bridge Club, consisted of three parts: a keynote speech, a knowledge quiz, and a talent show.

    Twelve finalists advanced from a pool of 30 contestants representing 24 Egyptian universities in the preliminary rounds. The participants demonstrated strong proficiency in the Chinese language and extensive understanding of China’s national conditions.

    Two students from Cairo University, Ola Sherief and Youssef Ehab, won the grand prize and the first prize respectively.

    The grand prizer Sherief, a student majoring in Chinese translation, said that she likes to learn Chinese and understand Chinese culture through a variety of Chinese film and television works and social media platforms in her spare time.

    “I hope to use Chinese as a bridge to contribute to the mutual understanding and cultural exchanges between Chinese and Egyptian youth,” Sherief told Xinhua.

    “We welcome more Egyptian youth to visit China and contribute to promoting cultural exchanges and people-to-people exchanges between China and Egypt, promoting mutual learning and mutual benefit among the world’s diverse civilizations, and building a community with a shared future for mankind,” Liu Jianqing, deputy director-general of China’s Center for Language Education and Cooperation, said at the award ceremony.

    Egypt has opened 32 Chinese majors across 30 universities, and 21 public middle schools have introduced Chinese as an elective subject for a second foreign language.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Wang Chuqin romps into second round at table tennis worlds

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    China’s world No. 2 Wang Chuqin delivered a commanding performance, defeating American Nandan Naresh at the men’s singles first round of the world table tennis championships on Saturday night.

    Wang controlled the match effortlessly and left the 18-year-old opponent with limited opportunities to challenge him, winning the one-sided affair 11-6, 11-4, 11-2, 11-4.

    A service call was successfully challenged as Wang asked for video review on a serve which was ruled as illegally angled.

    “I have confidence in my serves,” said Wang, who is seeking his first world singles championship in Doha.

    Wang’s world fifth-ranked teammate, Liang Jingkun, also made it to the second round, after beating Ham Yu Song from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea 14-12, 11-6, 10-12, 11-3, 11-8.

    Xue Fei became China’s first casualty, as the only penholding player on the team squandered a two-set lead in a 4-2 loss to Japan’s Hiroto Shinozuka.

    The world’s most renowned penholder, world No. 6 Felix Lebrun of France, eased past Slovakia’s Lubomir Pistej in straight sets.

    Earlier, top-ranked Chinese woman Sun Yingsha cruised past No. 216 Veronika Matiunina of Ukraine in four sets.

    “My performance is normal,” said Sun, the defending world singles champion who has twice finished runner-up at the Olympics. “I didn’t know much about my opponent. But her serve is good, and her style is unique as an 18-year-old teenager.”

    Sun will next take on the winner between 262nd-ranked Costa Rican Lucia Zavaleta and No. 67 Pyong Song Gyong from DPRK, whose players are known for exceeding expectations.

    “My second round rival might be very strong. I will get myself prepared for a tough game,” she said.

    China’s world No. 3 Chen Xingtong also reached the second round, beating South African Rochica Sonday 4-0.

    Japanese Satsuki Odo and Mima Ito, ranked eighth and ninth respectively in the world, both advanced into the second round with straight-set victories.

    Sunday’s action will see China’s world No. 1 Lin Shidong, Brazil’s No. 3 and World Cup holder Hugo Calderano, and China’s No. 2 woman Wang Manyu make their singles appearance in Doha.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Togo: Solar energy shines light on delivery rooms

    Source: African Development Bank Group
    As night falls on the Batonou Health Centre on the Mono River, which forms the international boundary between Togo and Benin, Victorine Ablavi, nurse, midwife and head of the peripheral care unit, is busy at her examination table. Just a few years ago, she would have been forced to go about her duties in the dark, with a…

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Egypt’s President El-Sisi Commends the African Development Bank for Transformative impact, Reinforces Strategic Partnerships

    Source: African Development Bank Group
    Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi praised African Development Bank Group’s President Dr Akinwumi Adesina for his visionary leadership during an official meeting held in Cairo on 11 May, highlighting the Bank’s pivotal role in advancing critical investments across Africa over the past decade.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Save the Children says Budget 2025 must commit to improving children’s wellbeing

    Source: Save the Children

    Ahead of this week’s Budget announcement, Save the Children is calling on the Government to provide greater investment in children following a damning report showing New Zealand ranks among the lowest countries in the OECD for child wellbeing and mental health.

    UNICEF’s global report card – released this week – shows New Zealand ranks 32nd out of 36 wealthy countries analysed for children’s wellbeing, while also highlighting New Zealand has the highest youth suicide rate among the 36 -nearly three times the average-and ranks last for child and youth mental health. It also shows that bullying remains a widespread issue, with New Zealand posting the second-highest rate of bullying among children.

    Other reports from Save the Children’s own climate modelling showing the impact of climate change on children’s lives, alongside Government statistics, show children’s wellbeing, including their physical and mental health, basic needs including food security, housing and access to healthcare are under threat.

    Additionally, a report released by the Auditor-General, revealed that child-informed budget decisions are critical if we are to avoid harming already vulnerable children and families due to cuts to funding of critical services.

    “Government budget decisions have a direct impact on the lives and wellbeing of every New Zealander,” says Save the Children New Zealand’s Advocacy and Research Director Jacqui Southey.

    “It’s clear that greater investment is needed to improve the wellbeing of our children. If New Zealand is to have a prosperous future, we need to invest to ensure our children live good lives now and have bright futures to look forward to.

    “New Zealand ranking the worst in the world for youth suicides is devasting. Greater government investment in child health, wellbeing and the essentials they need to live good lives now is critical. We need to ensure that as a nation we are making funding decisions that improve the lives of our children and families.”

    Ms Southey says investing in children also means investing in families to ensure they have liveable incomes, healthy and affordable housing, enough healthy food and access to quality healthcare and education for all ages. These are the foundations of a healthy thriving society.

    “The grim reality for many New Zealand families living on the lowest incomes is that they are struggling to afford the very basics. The high cost of housing, food, and electricity, combined with growing unemployment particularly for youth, increased numbers of avoidable hospital admissions and rising child poverty levels are all worrying signs that life is very tough for thousands of New Zealand families, and it is those families who will struggle most in the event of a climate emergency.

    “Targeted investment is needed in ensuring liveable incomes for all families, alongside a greater focus on climate emissions reduction and investing in climate resilient child-critical services.”

    About Save the Children NZ:

    Save the Children works in 120 countries across the world. The organisation responds to emergencies and works with children and their communities to ensure they survive, learn and are protected.

    Save the Children NZ currently supports international programmes in Fiji, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Laos, Nepal, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Areas of work include child protection, education and literacy, disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation, and alleviating child poverty.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Tunisian President Meets with Head of CPC Central Committee Propaganda Department

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    TUNIS, May 17 (Xinhua) — Tunisian President Kais Saied met with Li Shulei, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, who visited Tunisia from May 14 to 17 as the head of a CPC delegation.

    During the meeting on Thursday, Li Shulei first conveyed cordial greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping to K. Saied and recalled that in May 2024, the two heads of state jointly announced the establishment of China-Tunisia strategic partnership, outlining a new plan for the development of interstate ties.

    Li Shulei stressed that China is willing to work with Tunisia to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, promote traditional friendship, strengthen political mutual trust, enhance exchanges of experience in public administration, and advance the high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road to achieve more win-win results.

    China hopes to deepen cooperation with Tunisia in such fields as culture, science, tourism and media, expand exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations, strengthen coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs, and promote the sustainable and long-term development of interstate ties, he added.

    K. Saied, for his part, asked Li Shulei to convey his sincere greetings and best wishes to Xi Jinping, assuring that Tunisia attaches great importance to developing relations with China. He also spoke highly of China’s development achievements and its important role in international affairs, thanking the Chinese side for its long-standing and meaningful support for Tunisia’s socio-economic development.

    The President stressed that Tunisia firmly adheres to the one-China principle and supports China’s efforts to achieve national reunification and protect its core interests.

    K. Said noted that Tunisia expects to deepen the alignment of development strategies with China and strengthen cooperation in various areas, such as economics and trade, cultural and humanitarian exchanges, healthcare and infrastructure construction.

    During the visit, Li Shulei also met with Tunisian Prime Minister Sarah Zaafarani Zanzari, Chairman of the Assembly of People’s Representatives (lower house of parliament) Brahim Bouderbala and Chairman of the National Council of Regions and Districts (upper house of parliament) Imed Derbali. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Arab leaders demand ceasefire in Gaza, reject displacement of Palestinians

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BAGHDAD, May 17 (Xinhua) — Arab leaders on Saturday called for an immediate end to the war in the Gaza Strip and expressed their opposition to the forced displacement of Palestinians.

    In the final statement of the 34th Arab League summit, which opened earlier in the day in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, the leaders of the league’s 22 member states demanded “an immediate end to the war in the Gaza Strip and all hostilities that aggravate the suffering of the civilian population.”

    The statement calls on the international community, in particular influential countries, to fulfil their moral and legal obligations to stop the bloodshed and ensure unimpeded humanitarian aid to the Palestinian enclave.

    The Arab League leaders also reiterated their opposition to the forced displacement of Palestinians, which violates international law, the statement said.

    They called on all countries to provide political, financial and legal support for the reconstruction and rehabilitation plans for the Gaza Strip, and welcomed Iraq’s call for a fund to be created for the reconstruction of Gaza.

    According to the statement, the heads of state reaffirmed that the Palestinian issue remains the central concern of the Arab nation and the key to regional stability. They fully support the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including freedom, self-determination and the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, the document added.

    The statement emphasizes that Arab leaders condemn all illegal measures and actions by Israel against the Palestinian people and depriving them of their right to freedom, life and human dignity.

    The leaders supported Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s call to convene an international peace conference and take steps to implement a two-state solution.

    The statement also touched on other issues in the Arab world, including Sudan, Lebanon, Syria, Libya and Yemen, and reiterated Arab leaders’ condemnation of terrorism in any form, especially the terrorist attacks of the Islamic State group.

    The summit was attended by leaders and senior diplomats from 22 LAS member states, as well as representatives of regional and international organizations. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: 34th Arab League summit held in Iraq with focus on Palestinian issue

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BAGHDAD, May 17 (Xinhua) — The 34th Arab League (LAS) summit opened in the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Saturday with the participation of 22 member countries of the league, as well as a number of regional and international organizations. The main topic was the key challenges facing the Arab world, in particular the ongoing crisis in Palestine.

    Iraqi President Abdel Latif Rashid, who took over the rotating presidency from Bahrain, highlighted the grave threats facing the region in his speech. He condemned Israel for its “systematic killing” of Palestinians since October 2023, calling it an attempt to “erase their presence from their land.”

    “We strongly condemn these actions, which violate human rights and international law,” said A. L. Rashid, reiterating Iraq’s continued support for the right of the Palestinian people to live on their land and opposition to any attempt to forcibly displace them.

    He also stressed that Iraq supports the security and stability of Arab countries and opposes external interference in the internal affairs of Arab states.

    Speaking at the opening of the summit, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani presented 18 initiatives to intensify joint action by Arab countries, the main one of which was the creation of an Arab fund to support the region’s recovery from crises.

    M. al-Sudani stated that the Iraqi vision for resolving conflicts in the region “begins with the Palestinian people receiving the full right to live freely and with dignity on their land and ending the ongoing aggression /against their territory/.”

    “We have rejected and continue to reject the forced displacement of Palestinians, calling for an immediate end to attacks on the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and other occupied Palestinian territories, as well as unimpeded humanitarian access,” the Iraqi prime minister said, announcing Iraq’s pledge of $20 million for the reconstruction of Gaza and another $20 million for Lebanon. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Europe fuels African Lion 2025

    Source: United States Army

    Jeffrey Jenkins, Warehousing Division, Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Europe, prepares a pallet of food supplies for shipment in support of African Lion 25.

    Beginning in early February, the DLA Distribution Europe team, based in Germershiem, Germany, processed 37 orders of food supplies, consisting of 38 pallets of Meals, Ready-to-Eat and Unitized Group Rations, for exercise participants in Senegal, Tunisia, and Morocco.

    (DoD courtesy photo, released) (Photo Credit: Dorie Heyer)

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    U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF)

    Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Europe played a key logistics role in supporting African Lion 2025 (AL25), the largest U.S. led military exercise in Africa, by providing vital food supplies to thousands of military personnel as they participate in the month-long event spanning four countries.

    Beginning in early February, the DLA Distribution Europe team, based in Germershiem, Germany, processed 37 orders of food supplies, consisting of 38 pallets of meals, ready to eat (MREs) and Unitized Group Rations, for exercise participants in Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia.

    “At a time when the global landscape is rapidly evolving, support to these multinational exercises showcases DLA’s total team effort to support the warfighter across the globe,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Michael Zdrojesky, commander, DLA Distribution Europe.

    The food supplies were provided by DLA Troop Support, another DLA major subordinate command, headquartered in Philadelphia.

    U.S. Africa Command leads African Lion, which brings together more than 10,000 military personnel from over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies. The exercise, scheduled from April 14 to May 23, 2025, spans Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia.

    African Lion began in 2004 and has become the U.S. military’s most significant exercise on the African continent. The exercise is designed to address shared security challenges, enhance readiness, reinforce strategic reach and foster innovative solutions.

    Michael Jantz, Warehousing Division, Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Europe, prepares a pallet of food supplies for shipment in support of African Lion 25.

    Beginning in early February, the DLA Distribution Europe team, based in Germershiem, Germany, processed 37 orders of food supplies, consisting of 38 pallets of Meals, Ready-to-Eat and Unitized Group Rations, for exercise participants in Senegal, Tunisia, and Morocco.

    (DoD courtesy photo, released) (Photo Credit: Courtesy)

    VIEW ORIGINAL

    “DLA Distribution Europe’s capabilities and professional workforce, combined with the team’s agility in responding to emerging missions, allow us to effectively support multiple theaters of operation,” Zdrojesky said.

    DLA Distribution Europe, located in Germersheim, Germany, is DLA Distribution’s largest distribution facility on the European continent and is a forward deployed Theater Distribution Platform.

    As an integral part of the Defense Logistics Agency’s worldwide network of 24 distribution centers, the organization provides initial surge capability during the transition to war phase, seamless joint theater distribution and innovative support of DLA and service-managed materiel to all four service component warfighters and government partners throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

    About African Lion

    AL25 is set to be the largest annual military exercise in Africa, bringing together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies, and about 10,000 troops. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), on behalf of U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM), the exercise will take place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. AL25 is designed to restore the warrior ethos, sharpen lethality, and strengthen military readiness alongside our African partners and allies This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight, and win.

    For all photos, videos and article throughout the exercise, visit the African Lion feature page on DVIDS.

    About Defense Logistics Agency

    The Defense Logistics Agency manages the end-to-end global defense supply chain – from raw materials to end user disposition – for the five military services, 11 combatant commands, other federal, state and local agencies partner and allied nations.

    About SETAF-AF

    U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) prepares Army forces, executes crisis response, enables strategic competition and strengthens partners to achieve U.S. Army Europe and Africa and U.S. Africa Command campaign objectives.

    Follow SETAF-AF on: Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn & DVIDS.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Backgrounder – Canada’s commitments at 2025 United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial meeting

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Following the 2025 United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial (UNPKM) meeting in Berlin, Germany, Canada committed to providing more than $40 million in new projects and contributions to continue supporting UN peace operations and related peacebuilding efforts.

    These commitments include a pledge to continue providing tactical airlift support to UN peace operations until 2027. Canada will also continue to support the protection of civilians (including women and children) and providing specialized training and to counter the threat of misinformation, disinformation, malinformation and hate speech in the context of UN peace operations. As a historic partner in supporting UN peace operations, Canada remains committed to advancing the meaningful participation of uniformed women in peace operations and to supporting critical UN capacity gaps.

    Peacekeeping training, capacity building and partnerships

    Canada’s pledging commitments include:

    • more than $11.4 million to support training, capacity building and partnerships
    • more than $3 million to support training and capacity-building efforts to help prepare more than 450 personnel from partner countries to deploy to UN peace support operations
    • an expansion of tactical airlift capabilities and support to the UN through airlift capabilities on an opportunity basis (subject to aircraft availability)
    • assistance to 2 peacekeeping training institutions in the Indo-Pacific region (Vietnam and Malaysia) to build their capacity to plan and deliver their own UN-certified Staff Officer and Civil-Military Cooperation courses
    • delivery of 3 combat first-aid train-the-trainer courses to provide selected partners with an important prerequisite for deployment and to create a national cadre of instructors.

    Canada’s Military Training and Cooperation Program will continue to provide member nations with a wide range of training courses that directly or indirectly strengthen their ability to participate in peace support operations and help improve the interoperability of their personnel in multinational peace support operations. Canada will increasingly share peacekeeping capacity-building activities with like-minded partners and, where appropriate, through the UN Light Coordination Mechanism, to increase opportunities for effective international collaboration and achieve greater impact.

    Through the Canadian Police Arrangement, the RCMP will:

    • augment training and capacity-building partnerships, including through the deployment of subject-matter experts to 3 peacekeeping regional training centres
    • support pre-deployment training for individual women police officers from contributing nations to help them meet UN requirements and increase the number of women police officers in UN missions
    • set up a community of practice consisting of previously deployed women to serve as a resource to support women peacekeepers around the world.

    Enhancing Peace Operations Through Training and Capacity-Building Support to the UN

    Project partner: UN Department of Peace Operations and UN Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance

    Funding announced: $3.3 million

    This funding will support multiple UN teams that focus on: strengthening child protection; countering improvised explosive devices and explosive ordnance capabilities; protecting civilians; preventing sexual exploitation and abuse (the SEA Programme of Action); leadership training (for section commanders and force chiefs of staff); preventing conflict-related sexual violence and peacekeeping intelligence; as well as new and emerging areas such as UN transitions and integrated planning and analysis. 

    Contributing to Addressing and Mitigating Misinformation and Disinformation in UN Peace Operations

    Project partner: UN Department of Peace Operations and UN Department of Operational Support

    Funding announced: $2.2 million

    This funding will support several UN teams that focus on strategic communications and countering misinformation, disinformation, malinformation and hate speech in the context of peace operations, including training and technology tools.

    Improving the Capacities of Uniformed Medical Personnel in Peace Operations Settings

    Project partner: UN Institute for Training and Research

    Funding announced: $2 million

    This funding will support capacity building of uniformed men and women, medical and paramedical personnel deployed in peace operations through the delivery of basic field trauma training, including mental health components and advanced medical training or a train-the-trainers course.

    Driving Excellence: Support to Peacekeeping Training Institutions

    Project partner: UN Institute for Training and Research

    Funding announced: $2 million

    This funding will build the capacity of targeted peacekeeping training institutions in Senegal and Indonesia to successfully develop and deliver national and peacekeeping pre-deployment training to uniformed personnel.

    Increasing Access to Peacekeeping Training Through E-Learning

    Project partner: Peace Operations Training Institute

    Funding announced: $1.5 million

    This funding will provide complementary e-learning training to peacekeepers individually, at a regional/national peacekeeping training institution or in field missions.

    Protection of Civilians in UN Peace Operations and Effects of Disinformation

    Project partner: Henry L. Stimson Center

    Funding announced: $242,285

    This funding will support research on how the full spectrum of UN peace operations can better protect civilians and understand how misinformation and disinformation affect the ability of UN peace operations to protect civilians in the context of 5 UN peace operations: including Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, South Sudan and Sudan.

    Supporting the Cyprus Peace Process II

    Project partner: UN Development Programme

    Funding announced: $136,000

    This funding will provide support to the UN Good Offices Mission in Cyprus and the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus to better develop and refine approaches to peacekeeping and peacebuilding in the country through evidence-based research data.

    Supporting Military Gender Advisors and Gender Focal Points

    Project partner: UNITAR

    Funding announced: over $2 million

    This funding will support UNITAR to train military gender advisers and gender focal points for UN peace support operations and to train trainers and deliver national-level gender-mainstreaming courses to selected UN troop-contributing countries.

    Supporting the UN Integrated Training Service (ITS)

    Project partner: UN ITS

    Funding announced: over $800,000

    This funding will support UN ITS to deliver 4 train-the-trainer courses for UN staff officers and 1 train-the-trainer course for UN military observer using the newly updated UN curriculums to bolster national training cadres.

    UN Triangular Partnership Programme (TPP)

    Project partner: UN TPP

    Funding announced: $600,000

    This funding will support the UN TPP to deliver a 9-week cross-pillar training course in Cambodia focusing on explosive hazard awareness and heavy equipment operation. 

    Women, Peace and Security

    Canada will provide more than $26.5 million to support the UN’s Women, Peace and Security agenda, including the Elsie Initiative Fund, and training and capacity building. The RCMP commits to supporting women in peace operations by:

    • providing subject-matter experts to support pre-deployment training for individual women police officers (pre-SAAT)
    • meeting and exceeding the UN Secretary-General’s Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy targets with more than 30% women representation in international deployments
    • Establishing a national mentoring/networking program involving previously deployed women

    United Nations Elsie Initiative Fund for Uniformed Women in Peace Operations

    Project partner: United Nations Development Programme

    Funding announced: $15 million

    This project provides direct support to the Elsie Initiative Fund to: support barrier assessments; construct gender-sensitive accommodations; offer training and daycare facilities; provide financial premiums for gender-strong unit deployments; and develop gender policies, strategies and action plans, as well as training and capacity building.

    Supporting Uniformed Women’s Participation in UN Peace Operations

    Project partner: United Nations Institute for Training and Research

    Funding announced: $3.4 million

    This funding will support selected troop- and police-contributing countries in operationalizing the results of assessments of barriers to the meaningful participation of women in uniform in peace operations.

    Supporting the UN to Increase Meaningful Participation of Women in Peace Operations

    Project partner: UN Department of Peace Operations and UN Department of Operational Support

    Funding announced: $3 million

    This funding will support several UN teams that focus on accelerating the UN’s implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda, strategic communications and women’s outreach courses in information communications technology, including Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR), with the UN C4ISR Academy for Peace Operations.

    Promoting Gender-Sensitive Strategies, Policies and Training for UN Peacekeeping

    Project partners: UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, UN Department of Peace Operations

    Funding announced: $2.4 million

    This funding will support the development and coordination of concrete strategic and policy changes, as well as targeted initiatives at all levels within UN headquarters and in field missions, to create an inclusive workplace culture and promote gender parity.

    Amplifying the Elsie Initiative Through Data-informed Capacity Building

    Project partner: Cornell University

    Funding announced: $2.1 million

    This additional funding will support global policy discussions, national security sector actors and research entities in targeted troop- and police-contributing countries. The aim is to increase country-level capacity and motivation to advance women’s meaningful participation in UN peacekeeping by using data-informed technical assistance in 6 countries and producing policy recommendations and papers.

    Women, Peace and Security Mandate in the Indo-Pacific

    Project partners: Kingston Leadership Team Inc. and UN Women in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

    Funding announced: $720,000

    This funding will support several sub-projects that focus on: supporting UN peacekeeping through its Indo-Pacific Strategy; continued partnership with the Malaysian Peacekeeping Centre to deliver bilateral and multilateral Women, Peace and Security training, including train-the-trainer courses; and contribute toward a project delivered by UN Women and the UNDP in collaboration with Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defence to advance Women, Peace and Security, including in peace support operations.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: Fast Payout And Instant Withdrawal Casino: 7Bit Casino Voted #1 For Quick Withdrawals

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

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    Disclaimer & Affiliate Disclosure

    This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no warranties are provided regarding the content’s completeness or timeliness. Readers should verify information independently. The publisher and affiliates are not liable for errors, losses, or damages resulting from this content.

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    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: World Health Organization (WHO) Strengthens Field Presence and Support to Cholera Response During High Level Visit to Kwanza Sul and Benguela

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    BENGUELA, Angola, May 17, 2025/APO Group/ —

    As part of ongoing efforts to support Angola’s fight against the cholera outbreak and to reinforce regional health systems, the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Angola, Dr Indrajit Hazarika, conducted a field mission to the provinces of Kwanza Sul and Benguela this week. The visit served to strengthen collaboration with local authorities, highlight WHO’s decentralized support across the country, and follow the high-level visit of the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed.

    The field mission began in Kwanza Sul, where Dr Indrajit met with the Provincial Governor and the Provincial Director of Health. During the meeting, WHO expressed its appreciation for the province’s leadership in cholera response and for the continuous support to the WHO office in Sumbe. Discussions also focused on broader areas of collaboration, including expanding health coverage, and improving emergency preparedness.

    The delegation then proceeded to Benguela, where it joined a high-level visit led by the UN Deputy Secretary-General, the Minister of Health of Angola, and the UN Resident Coordinator to assess the province’s progress in responding to the cholera outbreak. The visit included a tour of the Cholera Treatment Center at the Municipal Hospital of Benguela and a stop at the mobile health clinic at the Lobito train station, which is extending care to vulnerable populations along the Lobito Corridor.

    Benguela has been one of the most affected provinces since the cholera outbreak began, at one point reporting over 100 cases per day. Thanks to strong leadership by the provincial government, a multisectoral approach, and support from WHO, UNICEF, and other partners, the situation has markedly improved. As of this week, the province reported fewer than 50 cases per day and some days registering zero deaths. The WHO Representative commended the efforts of provincial authorities, health workers, and frontline responders for this remarkable turnaround.

    “This progress is a direct result of local leadership, strong coordination, and collective action,” said the WHO Representative during the visit. “WHO is proud to stand with the Government of Angola—not just at the national level, but with teams embedded in provinces like Benguela and Kwanza Sul—working every day to respond to emergencies and strengthen the health system.”

    WHO’s support to Angola includes the deployment of emergency response teams, technical guidance for case management and surveillance, coordination support, and the delivery of critical medical supplies. WHO has also facilitated the deployment of Emergency Medical Teams from Portugal and Germany to reinforce the response in Benguela.

    The visit highlighted the importance of a whole-of-society response to cholera, one that not only treats the disease but addresses its root causes: lack of access to clean water, sanitation, and health services. The WHO Representative reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting Angola’s long-term goals of disease prevention, health system resilience, and universal health coverage.

    “Cholera thrives where development is lacking. We must not only stop this outbreak—we must prevent the next one. That means investing in primary health care, water and sanitation, and strong surveillance systems,” the WHO Representative emphasized.

    As the response continues, WHO remains a key partner to the Government of Angola and will continue to work hand-in-hand with national and provincial stakeholders to protect lives and build a healthier future for all Angolans.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Relationships drive readiness: SFAB advises through partnership in AL25

    Source: United States Army

    U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Luke Jones, assigned to Maneuver Advisor Team 2112, 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade (2SFAB), coaches Senegalese Armed Forces soldiers on the firing line during marksmanship training at the Centre d’Entraînement Tactique 2 (CET2) in Dodji, Senegal, May 5, 2025. The engagement supported the first day of live-fire range operations during African Lion 2025 (AL25) and focused on improving tactical proficiency and small-unit lethality among partner forces. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Solomon Navarro) (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Solomon Navarro) VIEW ORIGINAL

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    U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF)

    DODJI, Senegal — In the arid heat of Centre d’Entraînement Tactique 2 (CET2), Soldiers assigned to Maneuver Advisory Team (MAT) 2112, 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade (2nd SFAB), build more than interoperability; they build relationships.

    As participants in African Lion 2025 (AL25), U.S. Africa Command’s premier annual exercise, the 11-person 2nd SFAB team embedded with the Senegalese Army’s 32nd Battalion to enhance tactical effectiveness and reinforce enduring military partnerships.

    “We don’t just show up, advise and leave,” said U.S. Army Capt. Nicolaus Solari, MAT 2112 team leader. “Our role is to form lasting partnerships. The more trust we build, the more we can achieve together, on the ground and strategically.”

    That trust has been months in the making.

    Leading up to the exercise, the team engaged in key leader meetings, joint training events and informal exchanges that laid the foundation for deeper collaboration during AL25. Those early efforts helped shift the relationship from formality to genuine cooperation.

    “When you get past the uniforms and ranks, it’s about two professionals learning from each other,” said U.S. Army Master Sgt. Kevin Dellinger, MAT 2112’s senior enlisted advisor. “We’ve had conversations about family, hometowns and goals. Those small things translate to big results when it’s time to train.”

    During AL25, MAT 2112 advised the Senegalese 32nd Battalion during situational lanes, contributed to patrol planning and refined small-unit tactics. This reinforces trust through consistent presence and shared effort.

    U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Luke Jones, assigned to Maneuver Advisor Team 2112, 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade (2SFAB), coaches Senegalese Armed Forces soldiers on the firing line during marksmanship training at the Centre d’Entraînement Tactique 2 (CET2) in Dodji, Senegal, May 5, 2025. The engagement supported the first day of live-fire range operations during African Lion 2025 (AL25) and focused on improving tactical proficiency and small-unit lethality among partner forces. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Solomon Navarro) (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Solomon Navarro) VIEW ORIGINAL

    “We’ve trained shoulder-to-shoulder,” said Solari. “That builds mutual respect. It makes it easier to challenge each other and grow.”

    While tactical progress was a priority, the team’s focus on relationship-building reflected the long-term goals of the SFAB mission: empowering partners, strengthening institutions and fostering regional stability.

    “Our advisors bring years of experience, but also humility,” Solari said. “We’re here to advise and assist—but also to learn and grow alongside our counterparts.”

    The value of the team’s work extends beyond any single training event.

    “Every successful advising relationship is a small win that supports long-term regional stability,” said Dellinger. “We may be a small team, but the impact we make ripples outward.”

    U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to Maneuver Advisor Team 2112, 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade (2nd SFAB), provide instruction to members of the Armed Forces of Senegal on proper employment of the MK-19, 40mm grenade machine gun at Range 1, Centre d’Entraînement Tactique 2 (CET2) in Dodji, Senegal, May 12, 2025. The training, part of African Lion 2025 (AL25), focused on building tactical proficiency and strengthening interoperability between partner forces. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) on behalf of U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win. (Courtesy photo) (Photo Credit: Courtesy) VIEW ORIGINAL

    As AL25 concludes, MAT 2112 leaves Senegal with strengthened bonds and a shared commitment to future cooperation.

    “We’ll move on to the next location, and they’ll continue their mission here,” said Solari. “But what we’ve built together, the respect, the understanding, the trust—that stays.”

    About African Lion

    AL25 is set to be the largest annual military exercise in Africa, bringing together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies, and about 10,000 troops. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), on behalf of U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM), the exercise will take place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. AL25 is designed to restore the warrior ethos, sharpen lethality, and strengthen military readiness alongside our African partners and allies This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight, and win.

    For all photos, videos and article throughout the exercise, visit the African Lion feature page on DVIDS.

    About 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade (2nd SFAB)

    2nd SFAB, based in Fort Liberty, North Carolina, is a specialized U.S. Army unit trained to advise and assist partner militaries around the globe. In Africa, 2SFAB teams operate under the direction of U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), working alongside African forces to build tactical skills, enhance interoperability, and strengthen long-term security cooperation in support of U.S. Africa Command objectives.

    About SETAF-AF

    U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) prepares Army forces, executes crisis response, enables strategic competition and strengthens partners to achieve U.S. Army Europe and Africa and U.S. Africa Command campaign objectives.

    Follow SETAF-AF on: Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn & DVIDS.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s remarks at the League of Arab States Summit [scroll down for Arabic]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    As salaam alaikum.

    Your Excellency President Rashid, thank you for your invitation and your hospitality.

    Your Highnesses, your Excellencies,

    Secretary-General Aboul Gheit,

    Ladies and Gentlemen

    I am honoured to be with you to further strengthen our partnership with the League of Arab States.

    The region and the world face trials and tests on all fronts.

    Starting with Gaza.

    Nothing justifies the atrocious October 7 terror attacks by Hamas.

    And nothing justifies the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.

    We need a permanent ceasefire, now.

    The unconditional release of all hostages, now.

    And the free flow of humanitarian aid ending the blockade, now.

    I am alarmed by reported plans by Israel to expand ground operations and more.

    And I emphasize that the United Nations will not participate in any so-called aid operation that does not adhere to international law and the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, independence and neutrality.

    And I reiterate my appeal for the urgent and full support of UNRWA’s work, including financial support.

    We reject the repeated displacement of the Gaza population – and we obviously reject any question of forced displacement outside of Gaza.

    We must also stay focused on the terrible situation in the occupied West Bank.

    Let’s be clear:   
     
    Annexation is illegal.  Settlements are illegal. 

    Only a two-State solution can deliver sustainable peace:

    Israel and Palestine living side-by-side in peace and security, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states, in line with UN resolutions, international law, and previous agreements.

    The high-level conference in June, co-chaired by France and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is an important opportunity. 

    The world, the region – and, most of all, the people of Palestine and Israel — cannot afford to watch the two-State solution disappear before our eyes.

    That goal has never been more imperative – but unfortunately it also looks more distant. 

    The international community has an enormous responsibility in this decisive moment. 

    Excellencies,

    In Lebanon, Security Council resolution 1701 is unequivocal:
    sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon must be respected, and the Government of Lebanon must have control over all Lebanese territory.

    And I welcome the stated commitment by Lebanese officials to ensure a state monopoly over weapons.

    I also encourage continued progress on reforms – as well as efforts to deploy the Lebanese Armed Forces to southern Lebanon, with the support of UNIFIL.

    In Syria, sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity are critical.

    And we must firmly support an inclusive, Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process, based on the key principles of Security Council resolution 2254 – a process that safeguards the rights and participation of all Syrians regardless of ethnicity and religion, and ensures their protection.

    This is the pathway to a peaceful, independent and democratic future, and an economic revival as sanctions are removed.

    Excellencies, Highnesses

    In Yemen, Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have significantly damaged the regional and global economies.

    I welcome the announcement made by the Sultanate of Oman on 6 May that the United States and the Houthis would cease hostilities.

    The trajectory of violence must cease – as we work for a negotiated Yemeni-led political settlement.

    UN staff and others that were arbitrarily arrested must be released.

    In Sudan, renewed and coordinated multilateral engagement is crucial to help stem appalling violence, famine, and mass displacement.

    And I am very grateful to the Arab League and to the AU for the excellent coordination meeting that we managed to have yesterday.

    I commend the efforts of the League of Arab States to strengthen multilateral coordination.

    In Somalia, unity and inclusive dialogue are imperative.

    The assistance of Somalia’s partners will be essential in the fight against Al Shabaab and strengthening peace and security in the country.

    That is why I put forward a recommendation to the Security Council to enable predictable and sustainable financing for the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia. 

    In Libya, we are actively engaging with national and international actors to end the confrontation between armed groups, to preserve the independence of key oversight institutions, to address the obstacles preventing national elections, and set the course for long-term stability and prosperity — in line with the Libyan people’s needs and aspirations.

    And once again, the League of Arab States is a vital partner in these efforts.

    Finally, here in Baghdad, I want to recognize and commend the progress Iraq has made since the restoration of sovereignty in 2004 — strengthening institutions, resolving outstanding disputes through dialogue, providing humanitarian assistance and fostering sustainable development and human rights.

    And I sincerely hope that all pending issues will find a just solution by dialogue. 
    The United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq has accompanied the country on this path and we are working to ensure the successful delivery of its residual mandate and an orderly drawdown by 31 December 2025.

    We are committed to continue supporting the Government and people of Iraq towards a peaceful, democratic and prosperous future.

    Highnesses, Excellencies,

    Despite the enormous challenges, let us draw lessons and hope from here in Baghdad. 

    Working in unity and solidarity, we can help resolve conflicts and build a future of peace and prosperity.

    That is the shared goal of the League of Arab States and the United Nations – and I look forward to continue to deepen our partnership together. 

    Shukran.
    ***

    السلام عليكم.
    فخامة الرئيس رشيد، أشكركم على دعوتكم إياي وعلى كرم ضيافتكم.
    أصحاب الجلالة،
    أصحاب السمو الملكي،
    أصحاب المعالي والسعادة،
    الأمين العام السيد أحمد أبو الغيط،
    يشرفني أن أكون معكم اليوم لمواصلة تعزيز شراكتنا مع جامعة الدول العربية.
    إنّ المنطقة والعالم يواجهان مِحناً وشدائد على كافة الجبهات.
    بدءاً بغزة.
    فلا شيء يبرر الهجمات الإرهابية الشنيعة التي نفذتها حماس في السابع من تشرين الأول/أكتوبر.
    ولا شيء يبرر العقاب الجماعي الذي يُمارَسُ على الشعب الفلسطيني.
    إننا بحاجة إلى وقف دائم لإطلاق النار، الآن.
    وإلى الإفراج غير المشروط عن جميع الرهائن، الآن.
    وإلى ضمان التدفق الحر للمعونة الإنسانية وإنهاء الحصار، الآن.
    وإنني أشعر بالجزع إزاء التقارير التي تفيد باعتزام إسرائيل توسيع نطاق العمليات البرية وأكثر من ذلك.
    وأؤكد أن الأمم المتحدة لن تشارك في ما يُسمّى بأيّ عمليةٍ لتقديم المعونة لا تمتثل للقانون الدولي ولمبادئ العمل الإنساني المتمثلة في الإنسانية، والنزاهة، والاستقلالية، والحياد.
    وأكرر مناشدتي تقديم الدعم العاجل والكامل لعمل الأونروا، بما في ذلك الدعم المالي.
    ونحن نرفض التهجير المتكرر لسكان غزة – وأي تفكير في تهجيرهم القسري خارج غزة.
    وعلينا أيضاً ألا نحوّل تركيزنا عما تعيشه الضفة الغربية المحتلة من أوضاع رهيبة.
    ولنكُن واضحين:
    ضمّ الأراضي عملٌ غير قانوني. والمستوطنات غير قانونية.
    وحلّ الدولتين هو السبيل الوحيد إلى تحقيق السلام المستدام:
    أي أن تعيش إسرائيل وفلسطين جنباً إلى جنب في سلام وأمن وتتخذان القدس عاصمةً للدولتين، بما يتماشى مع قرارات الأمم المتحدة وما ينص عليه القانون الدولي والاتفاقات السابقة.
    والمؤتمر الرفيع المستوى المقرر عقده في حزيران/يونيه، برئاسة مشتركة بين فرنسا والمملكة العربية السعودية، فرصةٌ مهمة.
    فالعالم والمنطقة – والأهم من ذلك، شعبا فلسطين وإسرائيل – لا يَسعهم أن يروا حلَّ الدولتين يتلاشى أمام أعيننا.
    ولم يكن هذا الهدف أكثر إلحاحا – لكن للأسف يبدو أيضا أنه يبدو أبعد من أي وقت مضى.
    ويتحمل المجتمع الدولي مسؤولية كبيرة في هذه اللحظة الحاسمة.
    أصحاب المعالي والسعادة،
    في لبنان، قرار مجلس الأمن 1701 واضحٌ لا لبس فيه: يجب احترام سيادة لبنان وسلامة أراضي لبنان، ويجب أن تكون لحكومة لبنان السيطرة على جميع الأراضي اللبنانية.
    وإنني أرحب بالالتزام الذي أعلنه المسؤولون اللبنانيون بضمان أن يكون السلاح بيد الدولة فقط.
    كما أشجع على مواصلة إحراز تقدم على طريق الإصلاحات – وأشجع كذلك الجهود المبذولة لنشر القوات المسلحة اللبنانية إلى جنوب لبنان، بدعم من قوة الأمم المتحدة المؤقتة في لبنان.
    وفي سوريا، يشكّل ضمان السيادة والاستقلال والوحدة وسلامة الأراضي أمرا حاسم الأهمية.
    ويجب علينا أن ندعم بقوة عمليةً سياسية شاملة للجميع يقودها السوريون ويمسكون بزمامها، استناداً إلى المبادئ الرئيسية لقرار مجلس الأمن 2254 – عملية تصون حقوق جميع السوريين وتكفل مشاركتهم بغض النظر عن أصلهم العرقي أو ديانتهم وتضمن حمايتهم.
    فهذا هو السبيل إلى مستقبل يعمه السلام وينعم فيه السوريون بالاستقلال والديمقراطية، وإلى انتعاش اقتصادي يتحقق بالتزامن مع رفع العقوبات.
    أصحاب المعالي والسعادة،
    في اليمن، ألحقت هجمات الحوثيين في البحر الأحمر أضرارا كبيرة بالاقتصادات الإقليمية والعالمية.
    يجب أن يتوقف مسار العنف – ونحن نعمل على التوصل إلى تسوية سياسية تفاوضية بقيادة يمنية.
    أرحب بإعلان سلطنة عمان 6 أيار/مايو بأن الولايات المتحدة والحوثيين سيوقفون الأعمال العدائية.
    لا بد أن يتوقف مسار العنف – بينما نعكف على التوصل إلى تسويةٍ سياسية تفاوضية بقيادة يمنية.
    ويجب الإفراج عن موظفي الأمم المتحدة وغيرهم ممن اعتُقلوا تعسفاً.
    وفي السودان، يتسم التعاون متعدد الأطراف المتجدِد والمنسّق بأهميته البالغة من أجل المساعدة على وقف العنف المروع والمجاعة والنزوح الجماعي.
    وأنا ممتن للغاية لجامعة الدول العربية وللاتحاد الأفريقي على الاجتماع التنسيقي الممتاز الذي تمكنا من عقده أمس.
    وإنني أثني على الجهود التي تبذلها جامعة الدول العربية لتعزيز التنسيق المتعدد الأطراف.
    وفي الصومال، لا مناص عن الوحدة والحوار الشامل للجميع.
    وستكون المساعدة المقدّمة من شركاء الصومال حيويةً في محاربة حركة الشباب وتعزيز السلام والأمن في البلد.
    ولهذا السبب تقدّمتُ بتوصية إلى مجلس الأمن لإتاحة تمويل مستدام يمكن التنبؤ به لبعثة الاتحاد الأفريقي للدعم وتحقيق الاستقرار في الصومال.
    وفي ليبيا، نعمل بنشاط مع الجهات الفاعلة الوطنية والدولية لوضع حد للمواجهات بين المجموعات المسلحة، والحفاظ على استقلالية مؤسسات الرقابة الرئيسية، وتذليل العقبات التي تحول دون إجراء انتخابات وطنية، وتحديد المسار المؤدي إلى الاستقرار والازدهار على المدى الطويل – بما يلبي احتياجات الشعب الليبي وتطلعاته.
    ومرة أخرى، تشكّل جامعة الدول العربية شريكاً حيوياً في هذه الجهود.
    وأخيراً، أود هنا في بغداد أن أنوه وأشيد بالتقدم الذي أحرزه العراق منذ استعادته السيادة في عام 2004 – على صعيد تقوية المؤسسات، وحلّ المنازعات غير المحسومة عن طريق الحوار، وتقديم المساعدات الإنسانية، وتعزيز التنمية المستدامة وحقوق الإنسان.
    وآمل مخلصاً أن يتم التوصل إلى حلٍّ عادل لكافة المسائل العالقة عبر الحوار.
    ولقد صاحبت العراق في مساره هذا بعثةُ الأمم المتحدة لتقديم المساعدة إلى العراق، ونحن نعمل جاهدين على ضمان تنفيذ البعثة ما تبقى من ولايتها بنجاح وانسحابها المنظم بحلول 31 كانون الأول/ ديسمبر 2025.
    وإننا ملتزمون بمواصلة دعم حكومة العراق وشعبه على الطريق نحو مستقبل يعمه السلام والديمقراطية والازدهار.
    أصحاب المعالي والسعادة،
    على الرغم من التحديات الهائلة، دعونا نستخلص العِبر ونستمد الأمل من هنا في بغداد.
    فبالعمل في إطار من الوحدة والتضامن، يمكننا أن نساعد على حلّ النزاعات وأن نبني مستقبلاً يسوده السلام والازدهار.
    هذا هو الهدف المشترك الذي تتقاسمه جامعة الدول العربية والأمم المتحدة – وإني أتطلع إلى مواصلة تعميق شراكتنا معاً.
    شكراً.
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • India to showcase power sector achievements at BRICS Energy Ministers’ Meet

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India is set to highlight its progress in the power and energy sectors at the upcoming BRICS Energy Ministers’ Meeting, scheduled to take place in Brazil on May 19, the Ministry of Power said on Saturday.
     
    Union Minister for Power and Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal, has embarked on an official visit to represent India at the high-level gathering.
     
    The meeting, being held under the theme “Empowering Global South Cooperation for Inclusive and Sustainable Global Governance,” will bring together energy ministers from BRICS nations — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — to deliberate on critical issues such as energy security, accessibility, affordability, and sustainability.
     
    India plans to use this platform to showcase key achievements from the past decade, including a 90 per cent increase in power generation capacity, significant advancements in renewable energy, green hydrogen, and biofuels, along with notable innovations in sustainable energy practices.
     
    During the discussions, India will also reaffirm its commitment to making energy more accessible and affordable, while accelerating the shift towards clean energy.

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: GBA promoted in Hungary

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang and Commissioner for Development of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Maisie Chan visited Hungary to promote development opportunities of the Greater Bay Area (GBA).
     
    After arriving in Budapest yesterday, Mr Tsang called on Chinese Ambassador to Hungary Gong Tao.
     
    Today, he met State Secretary for Bilateral Relations at the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade Boglárka Illés, and Hungarian National Assembly Deputy Speaker Lajos Oláh to share views on issues relating to the promotion of exchange and collaboration between Hong Kong and Hungary.
     
    Mr Tsang also attended the “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area – Europe (Hungary) Economic & Trade Cooperation Exchange Conference” jointly organised by the People’s Government of Guangdong Province, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Macao Special Administrative Region Government to promote business opportunities brought about by the GBA to the European business community, and Hong Kong’s position as a GBA international entry point and roles as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”.
     
    Speaking at the conference, he encouraged enterprises and talent to capitalise on Hong Kong’s unique advantages of having the staunch support of China and being closely connected to the world by establishing a foothold in the city and tapping into the huge market of the GBA, and to turn challenges into opportunities under the current international situation.
     
    Under “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong would maintain its status as a free port, implement a free trade policy, maintain the free flow of capital, goods, people and information, and firmly support a rules-based multilateral trading system, he emphasised.
     
    Mr Tsang will depart for Cairo, Egypt, tomorrow to attend the “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area – Africa (Egypt) Economic & Trade Cooperation Exchange Conference”.
     
    He will return to Hong Kong on May 19.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Kasamba Makes Spiritual Guidance Accessible With Promo for First-Time Clients

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York City, May 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    We’ve all seen scary movies. Maybe some of you have even had experiences that could be classified as paranormal. 

    If you’re curious to see how deep the rabbit hole goes, there are places online where you can speak to professional psychics who will explain much of it to you for free. 

    One place that comes to mind is a platform called Kasamba. As a new customer on the platform, you can get a free psychic reading in the form of introductory minutes, plus 50% off your first reading. 

    If you just recently started exploring the world of psychics, a psychic reading at Kasamba may be exactly what you need. If you’re already familiar with the world of psychics, you probably already know what Kasamba has in store for you.

    What Is Kasamba?

    The word “Kasamba” is of African origin. Depending on where you’re from, it can mean “a bathing child” in South Africa or a “dream chaser” in Uganda and Zambia.

    On the internet, Kasamba is an online psychic reading platform that’s been around for over 25 years. It offers readings via online chat and telephone, where you’re charged by the minute to speak with highly screened psychics to guarantee legitimate readings. 

    In other words, this is the real deal, so make sure you’ve burned some sage and are in the right frame of mind before you connect to a psychic on the site.

    Reputation, User Base, and Credibility

    To stay in business online for 25 years doing psychic readings is an impressive feat. Essentially, it can mean only one of two things. Either the readers on Kasamba are very good, or they’re the best con artists ever. 

    Yet if you read the site’s customer reviews, the majority are overwhelmingly in favor of the former, especially when it comes to readings on love and relationships. 

    According to their customers, love is the subject where Kasamba shines. If Cupid has been making your life a melodrama, the word is that their love psychics can not only dress the wounds from his arrows, but also inspire your heart to get back up on that horse and ride.

    >>Get 3 free minutes with 3 different advisors on Kasamba

    Pros and Cons of Kasamba

    Let’s look at the potential upsides and downsides of dipping your toes into Kasamba’s psychic pool with a free reading.

    Pros

    • 25 years of experience online
    • Hundreds of available psychics
    • 3 minutes free with 3 different psychics
    • 50% off your first reading
    • Informative reader profiles
    • Lots of customer reviews, both good and bad
    • Readings via online and phone chat
    • Large menu of readings to choose from
    • Informative “Articles” section
    • Free user-friendly Kasamba app for iOS and Android

    Cons

    • No video option available

    How Kasamba’s Psychic Reading Promo Works

    If you’re new to the free Kasamba psychic reading offers, let’s take a moment to show you how it all works.

    The “3 Promo Minutes” Offer for New Users

    Every new customer on Kasamba automatically gets a free 3-minute psychic reading with 3 different psychics. If it’s your first reading, trying to pick the right Kasamba psychic can be like picking a lottery number. Therefore, getting a free psychic reading chat with 3 different readers considerably raises the likelihood of finding the right one.

    No Obligation to Continue After the Free Trial

    Once your 3 mini-readings and 9 free minutes (total) are done, you are under no obligation to continue if you haven’t met a psychic who has captivated you. Yet Kasamba is so confident in their psychics’ abilities to fascinate and amaze you that they also offer 50% off your first reading if you opt to continue.

    >>Get 3 free minutes with 3 different advisors on Kasamba

    Types of Psychic Readings Available on Kasamba

    Seeking tailored insights? Kasamba offers diverse psychic readings, and studies suggest some find them more helpful for stress than therapy. Explore the specialties below to pinpoint the guidance you need.

    Love and Relationship Readings

    Whether you’re looking for new love, working on improving a relationship, married, or suffering through a divorce or breakup, the experienced love psychics at Kasamba can help. Many turn to Kasamba for insightful online tarot readings to gain clarity on their romantic situations. 

    They’ll pick up on the vibe of you and a partner and will be honest about who needs to change, who can’t, and if you should move on or stay and see if the other person is your soulmate. 

    We know it sounds like practical magic, but they’ve been doing this for a quarter of a century, offering guidance through tools like love tarot reading, and people keep coming back. Think about it.

    Career and Financial Insights

    The legendary American Oligarch J.P. Morgan is rumored to have once said, “Millionaires don’t use astrology, billionaires do.” Whether he actually said that or even meant it is up for debate, although he is said to have regularly visited the astrologer Evangeline Adams for advice.

    If you aspire to financial security, you can use the psychics at Kasamba the same way to help figure out your financial direction, since over 75 of them specialize in the subject.

    Tarot Card Readings

    The tarot has been around since ancient times and is currently the most popular psychic tool used by modern readers for fortune telling. A compendium of arcane spiritual knowledge, its 78 picture cards can be arranged in multiple spreads, thus making it flexible enough to answer almost any question.

    For fun and giggles, there are also automated AI tarot readings available on the site’s articles section, offering a digital approach to fortune telling. There, you can get a free tarot reading using one or three-card spreads that are not only fun but quite uncanny with their answers.

    Astrology and Horoscopes

    Ever since humans have been able to look up at the sky and wonder, the planets and stars have been a point of study and fascination. With a Kasamba astrology session, you can get a reading based on your date of birth. 

    That will help you recognize your astrological cycles, compatibility with others, and the best time to pursue goals. There is also a free Kasamba horoscope feature available daily to see what each day may have in store.

    Spiritual Guidance and Life Questions

    Whether you need a medium to contact a departed loved one in the afterlife, a clairvoyant for advice on spooky goings on at home, or just some sage life guidance, it’s all available at Kasamba. You can even explore the meanings behind your subconscious narratives with dream analysis services offered by many Kasamba psychics.

    >>Get 3 free minutes with 3 different advisors on Kasamba

    How to Pick the Best Psychic Reading Platform: A Quick Guide

    Here are some tips to help you find the best psychic platforms for your needs:

    Read User Reviews

    The best indication of the quality of any service is customer feedback. They’re paying for the service, and their opinion is numero uno. Make sure to study the customer ratings for any psychic you’re interested in.

    Check Specialization and Reading Style

    Make sure the psychic you’re choosing specializes in the topic you want to talk about. Most psychics focus on certain areas of questioning, like love and relationships, or career. If love is on your mind, especially if you’re curious about love spells or finding a compatible partner, talk to a love psychic.

    Try Different Psychics for Different Needs

    Just as you might seek a second opinion from a doctor, don’t be afraid to connect with different psychics for various questions or even for the same issue. Each psychic brings their unique gifts, perspectives, and connections. What resonates deeply with you from one advisor might offer a different angle from another.

    How to Prepare for Your Psychic Reading

    If it’s your first time getting an online psychic reading, below are some things you can do to prepare.

    Set Clear Goals or Questions in Advance

    Before you even connect with a psychic, take a moment for some introspection. What are you truly hoping to gain from this reading? Having specific questions or areas of focus will help you steer the conversation and ensure you receive the insights that are most relevant to you.

    Choose a Quiet Environment

    A quiet environment will help you and your psychic to better concentrate on the matters at hand and best facilitate you being able to process the information that’s being shared.

    Stay Open-Minded But Aware of General Advice

    If you knew the answer to your questions, you wouldn’t need to consult a psychic for advice. Be prepared to hear something new you hadn’t previously thought of. You need to be open to a different mindset than the one that created your problem and/or misunderstanding.

    Note Down Relevant Insights for Future Reflection

    It is often difficult to fully process and comprehend something you are hearing for the first time. Taking notes will allow you to go back and reflect on what was said with a different frame of mind, so you can experience a new level of understanding.

    How to Get Started With Kasamba

    Ready to explore the insights Kasamba has to offer? Getting started is straightforward: 

    • First, navigate to their official website. In the top right corner, you’ll spot a distinctive purple “Join” button; give it a click. 
    • Next, you’ll be prompted to provide your email address and create a secure password before hitting “Create Account.” Do keep in mind that Kasamba requires all users to be at least 18 years of age to sign up. 
    • Before proceeding further, they’ll guide you to review their comprehensive “Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.” If everything looks good to you, simply click “I understand” and proceed. 
    • Finally, to unlock their enticing introductory offers, you’ll need to put in your Kasamba login details, fund your account, and you’re ready to go.

    If anything arises, Customer Service can be contacted via email. 

    User Testimonials and Reviews

    Let’s discuss what real customers have to say about their psychic reading experience at Kasamba.

    Kasamba boasts an average score of 4.2 out of 5 on Trustpilot, compiled from a substantial 1,455 reviews, with over 60% of users awarding it a full five stars. 

    One such satisfied customer, Diane, lauded the “great psychic readings from vetted readers,” astutely pointing out the importance of advisor selection due to individual differences. She shared positive experiences with quick, detailed, and accurate psychics, highlighting the platform’s helpfulness during difficult times in her life and commending the excellent customer service [1]. 

    While Danielle found two of the four advisors she consulted to be insightful and pleasant, she noted that the other two focused too much on love and relationships [2]. 

    Offering a more neutral perspective, Jeanette simply described the app as “okay,” with some accurate predictions. In contrast, Mina recounted a frustrating experience with a slow and error-prone psychic who took an extended, costly time to get to the gist of her reading [3] [4].

    FAQs on Kasamba

    Here are some questions that customers have been asking about Kasamba.

    Is Kasamba a Legitimate Psychic Reading Platform?

    Yes, Kasamba is a legitimate psychic reading platform that has been operating for over 20 years. Many users report receiving helpful and insightful readings from its diverse network of psychics. However, like any online service with numerous independent practitioners, experiences can vary, and it’s wise to research individual advisors and manage expectations.

    How Do I Create an Account on Kasamba?

    Go to the Kasamba website or open their mobile app. Look for a button or link that says “Sign Up,” “Join,” or “Create Account”—it’s usually prominently displayed on the homepage. Clicking this will take you to a registration form where you’ll need to provide some basic information, such as your name, email address, and a password that you create.

    What Types of Readings Are Available on Kasamba?

    On Kasamba, you can connect with advisors specializing in love and relationships, career forecasts, psychic mediums for communicating with spirits, and tarot card readings for insightful guidance. You can also get advisors who focus on astrology, dream analysis, numerology, and even past life readings.

    How Much Do Readings Cost on Kasamba?

    You can expect to find readers ranging from around $1.99 per minute to upwards of $30 per minute, with factors like the advisor’s experience, reputation, and specialty influencing the cost.

    Can I Get a Free Trial or Free Minutes on Kasamba?

    Yes, you can take advantage of a generous 50% discount on your very first reading. Additionally, Kasamba provides 3 free minutes to chat with each of your first 3 advisors.

    Conclusion

    Psychic readings have come a long way from back in the day when you visited your local Shaman on a mountain top or saw a witch in a back alley room in a dodgy neighborhood.

    Now you can have psychics part the veil to other realms for you online, with a few free minutes to start, so you can get accustomed to another dimension.

    Are these readings accurate? While thousands of positive Kasamba reviews on their official website attest to their accuracy, hundreds of less favorable reviews on the same site suggest the opposite. This wide range of experiences highlights the subjective nature of psychic readings.

    Getting up to 9 free psychic reading minutes on Kasamba makes it easier to get the answers you want.

    >>Get 50% off your first reading on Kasamba

    References

    1. “Diane Gave Kasamba 5 Stars. Check out the Full Review.” Trustpilot, https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/681707e8fa0cd3b3e062b211. 
    2. “Danielle Miranda Gave Kasamba 3 Stars. Check out the Full Review.” Trustpilot, https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/665bb969242a3883df86a074.
    3. “Jeanette Gave Kasamba 3 Stars. Check out the Full Review.” Trustpilot, https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/660c007ce9ba9f68d9c11d39. 
    4. “Mina Gave Kasamba 3 Stars. Check out the Full Review.” Trustpilot, https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/6542cf3ff791c7d0cf333f37.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Special Provincial Official funeral service of Advocate Dumisile Nokwe.

    Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)

    President Cyril Ramaphosa attends the funeral of Duma Nokwe.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_jvIZMfLms

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s message on World Telecommunication and Information Society Day: “Gender equality in digital transformation” [scroll down for French version]

    Source: United Nations – English

    his World Telecommunication and Information Society Day marks the 160th anniversary of the International Telecommunication Union.

    From the telegraph to radio, from the Internet to Artificial Intelligence, technology has transformed how we live, work, and connect.  But its benefits remain deeply unequal.  This year’s focus on gender equality in digital transformation is both timely and urgent.

    Around the world, algorithmic bias is reinforcing old prejudices.  Online harassment and abuse silences women’s voices and drives them offline.  And women and girls remain severely underrepresented in the very fields shaping our future: science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

    This injustice harms us all.  We cannot accept a digital future that leaves half of humanity behind. We must urgently invest in digital skills for all; harness the potential of technology to improve women’s lives; dismantle barriers blocking their full participation and leadership in the technology sector; and keep working to eradicate gender-based violence in all its forms – online and offline.

    The Pact for the Future and the Global Digital Compact offer a path to bridge all digital divides and strengthen collaboration for women’s rights online.  Let’s take that path together and help ensure digital transformation is a force for progress, inclusion, and equality.

    When technology serves everyone, everyone wins.

    ***

    Cette année, la Journée mondiale des télécommunications et de la société de l’information marque le 160e anniversaire de l’Union internationale des télécommunications.

    Du télégraphe à la radio, d’Internet à l’intelligence artificielle, la technologie a transformé notre façon de vivre, de travailler et de communiquer. Pourtant, les avantages que l’on en retire restent très inégalement répartis. C’est pourquoi il est nécessaire d’appeler cette année l’attention sur l’égalité des genres dans la transformation numérique.

    Partout dans le monde, les biais algorithmiques renforcent les préjugés ancrés de longue date. Le harcèlement et les violences en ligne réduisent les femmes au silence et les poussent à déserter Internet. Les femmes et les filles restent largement sous-représentées dans les domaines qui, justement, façonnent notre avenir : les sciences, la technologie, l’ingénierie et les mathématiques.

    Cette injustice nous fait du tort, à toutes et à tous. Nous ne pouvons accepter un avenir numérique qui laisse de côté la moitié de l’humanité. Nous devons investir de toute urgence dans les compétences numériques pour tous et toutes, utiliser tout le potentiel des technologies pour améliorer la vie des femmes, abattre les obstacles qui les empêchent de participer pleinement au secteur technologique et d’y jouer un rôle moteur et continuer d’œuvrer à l’éradication de la violence fondée sur le genre sous toutes ses formes, en ligne et hors ligne.

    Le Pacte pour l’avenir et le Pacte numérique mondial offrent l’occasion de réduire toutes les fractures numériques et de renforcer la collaboration pour faire respecter les droits des femmes en ligne. Saisissons cette occasion ensemble et contribuons à faire de la transformation numérique une force au service du progrès, de l’inclusion et de l’égalité.

    Lorsque la technologie est au service de chacune et de chacun, tout le monde y gagne.

    ***
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s message on the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia [scroll down for French verion]

    Source: United Nations – English

    t is a tragic truth that violence and discrimination continue to be a part of everyday life for millions of LGBTIQ+ people around the world. They face an onslaught of hate speech, attacks, and restrictions on their rights.  Meanwhile, funding cuts for critical health services and civil society organizations threaten further devastating impacts.

    The theme of this year’s international day – “the power of communities” – reminds us that we are strongest together. LGBTIQ+ people, and those working with them to secure their rights, have proved time and again the value of communities in providing support and driving change. 

    Their example should inspire us all to come together and realize the vision of a world where every member of our human family can live a life of freedom, equality, and dignity. Working as one, we must push to repeal discriminatory laws, combat violence and harmful practices, and end the scapegoating of marginalized communities.
     
    The United Nations is a proud partner in these efforts. We will not rest until the rights of all are a reality, no matter who they are or whom they love.   

    ***

    Il est terrible de constater que des millions de personnes LGBTIQ+ dans le monde continuent de faire l’objet au quotidien de violences et de discriminations, d’être soumises à un déferlement de haine et d’attaques et de voir rogner leurs droits, au moment même où elles risquent de subir les effets dévastateurs des coupes dans les budgets des services de santé et des organisations de la société civile.

    Le thème de la journée internationale de cette année, « le pouvoir des communautés », nous rappelle que l’union fait la force. Les personnes LGBTIQ+, ainsi que celles qui les accompagnent pour défendre leurs droits, ont prouvé à maintes reprises que les communautés étaient irremplaçables dès lors qu’il s’agissait d’apporter une aide et d’œuvrer au changement.

    Leur exemple nous invite à nous rassembler et à faire advenir un monde où chaque membre de la famille humaine peut vivre dans la liberté, l’égalité et la dignité. En conjuguant nos forces, faisons pression pour abroger les lois discriminatoires, combattons la violence et les pratiques préjudiciables et empêchons qu’on continue de transformer les communautés marginalisées en boucs émissaires.
     
    L’Organisation des Nations Unies est fière de participer à cette lutte. Nous n’aurons aucun repos tant que ne seront pas reconnus et mis en œuvre les droits de toutes les personnes – peu importe qui elles sont ou qui elles aiment.

    ***
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • Terror Inc.: How Pakistani Army has hijacked the state acting as an agent of Chaos & Conflict

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Pakistan’s economy has long ceased to be a level playing field. While democratic institutions, civilian enterprises, and private sector innovation struggle to survive under chronic political instability and fiscal mismanagement, one institution not only survives but thrives i.e. the Pakistani Army. Far from being merely a military force, the army has built an unrivalled corporate empire that operates through a vast network of foundations, front companies, and patronage networks. This economic leviathan has embedded itself across vital sectors including real estate, banking, agribusiness, manufacturing, media, and logistics. Its control is not informal it is institutional, legalized through special exemptions, military-backed land ordinances, and bureaucratic dominance. As a result, the military runs a parallel economy that undermines competition, distorts public policy, and undermines democracy.

    The cornerstone of the Pakistan Army’s corporate empire lies in its foundations i.e. semi-governmental yet commercially active entities that were originally set up for the welfare of ex-servicemen but have since evolved into sprawling conglomerates. The Fauji Foundation, founded in 1954, is the most powerful of these entities. Ostensibly a charitable trust, Fauji operates over three dozen subsidiaries including Fauji Fertilizer Company (FFC), Fauji Cement Company Limited (FCCL), Fauji Oil Terminal & Distribution Company (FOTCO), and Askari Bank. FFC alone is one of Pakistan’s largest fertilizer producers, consistently generating billions in revenue and dividends, a significant portion of which goes back to the army. Askari Bank, likewise, operates under military supervision, with its board stacked with retired generals, and acts as a key financial vehicle for other military-affiliated ventures.

    Another major player is the Army Welfare Trust (AWT), which controls more than 25 commercial enterprises. These range from AWT Investments and Askari General Insurance to sugar mills, textiles, trucking, and aviation services. In real estate, the Army’s footprint is massive. Through the Defence Housing Authority (DHA), the military has become the largest land developer in Pakistan, with projects in cities like Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi, Multan, Gujranwala, and Bahawalpur. DHA projects often involve coercive land acquisition, where civilian and minority-owned lands are seized under the pretext of national security or public interest, only to be converted into luxury gated communities for serving and retired officers.

    The Pakistan Air Force operates the Shaheen Foundation, which manages diverse assets including FM radio stations, construction companies like Shaheen Builders, travel agencies, and educational institutions. The Pakistan Navy runs the Bahria Foundation, whose holdings include Bahria Maritime Services, Bahria University, and port-related logistics. Together, these four military foundations operate over 100 subsidiaries spanning dozens of industries, including grain storage, packaging, medical services, cement, and even advertising.

    Despite being commercial entities, these businesses are shielded from competition and financial scrutiny. They enjoy tax exemptions, priority access to government contracts, and the use of military logistics and infrastructure. Their dominance pushes out private enterprises and distorts the market. Civilian regulators often headed by retired officers fail to hold them accountable. Moreover, much of the income generated is not reinvested into national development but siphoned off for the elite military class. The benefits of these ventures rarely trickle down to the rank-and-file soldiers, let alone the public. Instead, they create a closed-loop economy where military officers retire into boardrooms and continue to wield economic and political influence.

    This commercial empire also acts as a platform for political control. The military uses its economic levers to shape media narratives, buy influence in the judiciary, and co-opt politicians. Media groups like the Nawa-i-Waqt Group and Bol News have faced closure or harassment when deviating from military narratives, while ISPR the army’s media wing actively funds propaganda campaigns and online troll armies. Business leaders who fund opposition parties are often subjected to National Accountability Bureau (NAB) probes, tax audits, or asset seizures. Through these tactics, the military consolidates not just wealth but unchallenged authority.

    However, the most dangerous and opaque part of the army’s economic footprint lies in its integration with Pakistan’s narco-terror complex. From the days of the Soviet-Afghan war, when the ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) under General Akhtar Abdur Rahman facilitated heroin production and smuggling to fund covert Mujahideen operations, the army’s involvement in narcotics has grown into a transnational pipeline. Opium grown in Afghanistan is processed in makeshift labs across Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, then transported via Balochistan’s Makran coast and Karachi ports. The logistics for these movements are often handled through military-controlled transport units, particularly those attached to the National Logistics Cell (NLC), which has long enjoyed immunity from customs inspections.

    Key individuals who are linked to this drug-financed ecosystem include former ISI chiefs like Hamid Gul and Shuja Pasha, both of whom oversaw extensive intelligence operations involving militant financing during their tenures. The Haqqani Network, long a proxy of the ISI, operated with impunity across the Af-Pak region and controlled smuggling routes for both arms and drugs. Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) have all received funding via hawala channels sourced from narco-trafficking and arms sales. The proceeds are laundered through front charities such as the Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) and ostensibly other organisational fronts registered in Gulf states.

    In recent years, the growing convergence between Pakistan’s military and drug cartels operating in the Middle East, particularly in UAE and Oman, has given rise to a “military-narco-intelligence” axis. Front companies tied to retired army officials like Lt. Gen. Javed Nasir (former ISI chief) and certain members of the notorious business family have been implicated in narcotics laundering investigations across the Gulf and UK. The black money generated through this system is used to fund proxy wars in Jammu & Kashmir, Afghanistan, and increasingly Africa, where Pakistani mercenaries are now known to operate in conjunction with both Chinese and Turkish military logistics.

    The arms trade is another critical node in this network. Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF), based in Wah Cantt, manufactures everything from bullets and grenades to mortars and automatic rifles. While officially intended for the Pakistani military, these arms often find their way into conflict zones. Documented recoveries of POF-manufactured arms in India’s Jammu & Kashmir state, Syria, Libya, and Nigeria underscore how the ISI uses weapon flows to back proxy forces. Smuggling routes operate across the Durand Line, Baluchistan’s desert terrain, and even through diplomatic pouches. Pakistani naval assets, particularly cargo shipments flagged through Bahria Maritime Services, have been used for covert arms transfers. Intelligence intercepts in East Africa and the Persian Gulf have pointed to Pakistani arms deliveries to Hamas and Hezbollah intermediaries.

    Pakistan’s terror infrastructure is essentially sustained through this fusion of narco profits, arms trade, and ideological training. Groups like Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), LeT, and JeM have training facilities, safehouses, and logistical support provided by elements within the army or the ISI. Interrogations of captured operatives have repeatedly revealed training stints at army-run camps in Muridke, Bahawalpur, and Muzaffarabad. These groups serve multiple functions, they destabilize India, threaten Afghanistan, and help maintain chaos that justifies international military aid. Even China, despite its Balochistan investments, has turned a blind eye to this nexus, so long as its economic interests remain protected.

    The role of state-affiliated institutions in laundering terror funds further reinforces the military’s omnipotence. The Habib Bank scandal in the United States, where the Pakistani bank was fined for facilitating transactions linked to terrorism, was just the tip of the iceberg. Banks like Askari Bank and Summit Bank, both closely tied to military interests, have come under scrutiny for suspicious transactions involving Gulf donors and shell companies. In Karachi, businessmen with ties to the MQM and ISI have also been accused of channelling narcotics profits into real estate and construction firms.

    The political consequences of this militarized economy are immense. Civilian governments, lacking control over the purse or arms, are reduced to caretakers. Parliament has little say over defence budgeting. The judiciary, itself often filled with pro-military judges or intimidated through surveillance, rarely challenges army operations. In 2022, the controversial removal of Prime Minister Imran Khan initially backed and later discarded by the military illustrated how no political leader is safe from Rawalpindi’s coercive power once they deviate from script. Khan’s campaign to expose army interference led to mass arrests, internet blackouts, and an orchestrated crackdown, executed with both police and ISI coordination.

    The Pakistani military’s role as an agent of regional chaos has long been subsidized by foreign powers seeking to use it as a counterweight to India’s rise. The United States alone has funnelled over $33 billion in military and economic aid to Pakistan since 2001, including $14.5 billion in Coalition Support Funds, much of which empowered the ISI’s proxy terror infrastructure rather than dismantling it. Simultaneously, the IMF has approved 23 bailout programs, the latest being a $1.02 billion package on 9th May 2025, effectively rescuing a bankrupt regime without civilian accountability. China, under the $62 billion CPEC initiative, has fortified its alliance with Pakistan’s military, funding dual-use infrastructure while arming it with drones, radar systems, and port access.

    Turkey, too, has become a critical enabler exporting Bayraktar drones, expanding joint training, and backing Islamist networks aligned with Pakistani interests. Following India’s recent precision strikes on Pakistani airbases, including key terror installations in Muridke and Bahawalpur, these powers have grown visibly uneasy, fearing that India’s assertiveness could dismantle the utility of Pakistan as a destabilizing tool. Their aid, veiled as strategic cooperation, in reality props up a militarized state whose primary export is instability used not only to bleed India but also to disrupt the emergence of a multipolar Asia where India could assert sovereignty independent of Western or Chinese-led frameworks i.e. G2 Consensus.

    Navroop Singh is an Intellectual Property Attorney in New Delhi and a geopolitical analyst with the ‘Niti Shastra’ platform. He has co-authored three books and writes on foreign policy, law, history, and public affairs.